Iran, Russia Launch Bushehr Nuclear Plant

A Russian technician works in the control room of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran. Photo by CNN

With an official ceremony attended by Russian officials, Iran begun loading fuel in its first nuclear power station, BBC reports Saturday.

Russia will operate the Bushehr plant, located in southern Iran, by supplying nuclear fuel and taking away the nuclear waste.

Iran has been subject to four rounds of UN sanctions because of its uranium enrichment program, but experts reassure that as long as the plant is Russian-operated, there is little immediate threat of its fuel being diverted to make bombs. Iran insists it only plans peaceful energy production.

The Russian-supplied uranium fuel, enriched by 3.5%, is well below the 90% enrichment level needed for a nuclear weapon, but the plant also begun a pilot program to enrich uranium to 20% which Iran says is needed for a medical research reactor. It was exactly this program that caused alarm in Europe and the US.

The Bushehr facility has taken 35 years to build and has been plagued by delays.

"Despite all pressure, sanctions and hardships imposed by western nations, we are now witnessing the startup of the largest symbol of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities," Iranian Nuclear Head Ali Akbar Salehi is quoted saying.

Nationwide celebrations are planned to mark the event.

The Bushehr plant should begin producing electricity in about a month, experts say.

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