Russia to hand over Bushehr nuclear reactor to Iran today Russia would hand over 1,000 Megawatt Bushehr nuclear reactor to Iran today. The project under IAEA Control, began 35 years ago with Germany’s help and was finished by Russia. Iran’s Atomic agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi said he expected work to start soon on a second plant upon completion of talks with Moscow. The official IRNA news agency quoted Salehi saying that for another two years it will be under Russian guarantee and a number of Russian experts will remain in place to give advice and technical assistance. Under the deal, Moscow also agreed to provide its fuel for 10 years and Teheran would return the spent fuel, amid Western concerns over its controversial uranium enrichment program. Construction of the Bushehr facility began in the 1970s with the help of German company Siemens, which quit the project after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Work was also hampered by the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, before Russia agreed in 1994 to take up the construction of the plant. Construction of the Bushehr facility, located east across Gulf waters from southern Kuwait, has sparked concern among Gulf Arab states. However both Iran and Russia say it is subject to International Atomic Energy Agency ,IAEA safeguards.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:00:50 +0000