Bushehr plant to be launched at full capacity: Iran`s nuclear chief

TEHRAN, Nov.24(MNA) – The director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Wednesday that hopefully the Bushehr nuclear plant will be connected to the national grid at its full capacity in two months. “After solving technical problems of the power plant, I hope that it will be launched during the Ten-Day Dawn and operate at its full capacity,” Fereydoun Abbasi said. Ten-Day Dawn celebrations (February 1-11) marks the anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. On September 12, Iran celebrated the initial launch of the power plant, and on September 13, the plant was temporarily connected to the national grid and reached 40 percent of its capacity. After operating for two weeks with 50 percent of its power generation capacity, the Bushehr nuclear power plant was temporarily disconnected on October 16 from the national grid to undergo technical checks and tests. Abbasi also rejected claims that the Russians have deliberately put off the launch of the Bushehr plant. “During the eight months that I have been in charge of the Atomic Energy Organization, the Russians have fully cooperated (with Iran) to launch the power plant.” All nuclear power plants across the world were launched after undergoing many tests, he said, adding that the Bushehr power plant should also pass many tests to assure that no problem would arise. He said some countries are impatiently awaiting to see Iran’s failure in its nuclear program and said, “That is why we are not hurrying to launch the power plant. “We are trying to carry out all the necessary tests in order to ensure that the final launch of the Bushehr plant takes place without any problem and the plant connects to the national grid efficiently.” He also condemned the resolution issued recently against Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors, adding that Iran’s nuclear program has never diverted from peaceful purposes. The IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution against Iran over the country’s nuclear program by a vote of 32 to 2, with one abstention, on November 18. According to the official website of the Iranian Majlis, MP Fatemeh Alia said on Wednesday that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin or President Dmitry Medvedev will participate in a ceremony which will be held to mark the inauguration of the power plant in the near future.