Last batch of Russian nuclear fuel for Bushehr arrives in Iran

TEHRAN, January 28 (Itar-Tass) - The eighth, which is the last, batch of Russian nuclear fuel necessary for the initial stage of operation of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran was delivered on Monday to the construction site of the power plant, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has reported.

A communique of the AEOI said all fuel necessary for the initial stage as well as all More.. necessary equipment had been delivered in Iran. �The total amount of supplies has made up 82 tons of nuclear fuel enriched to 1.6-3.6 percent (235U),� the communique said.

�Supplies were made with adherence to all safety demands,� the organization stressed. The first batch of Russian nuclear fuel arrived to the construction site from Novosibirsk on December 6. The second batch arrived on December 28, while the third and the fourth � on January 18 and 20. Further supplies were made on January 22 and 24. The seventh batch arrived on January 26.

The official Tehran has welcomed these supplies, stressing that they contribute �to the deepening of strategic relations between Iran and Russia,� bur warning at the same time that they will not change its bid to enrich uranium itself.

President of the Russian Atomstroiexport Company (general contractor of the station�s construction) Sergei Shmatko told Itar-Tass earlier that Russia intends to complete construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station in the shortest possible time. �We have settled with the customer all questions and problems that existed,� Shmatko emphasized.

�We have started large-scale launching of work at the Bushehr station site.� �We shall hold a visiting meeting of all heads of contract organizations on the construction site early in February,� he noted. �The time of completing the Bushehr project is of principal nature for the customer,� the Atomstroiexport head stated. �We shall work to complete all things at the earliest,� he added.

According to head of the Russian Federal Agency for Nuclear Power (Rosatom) Sergei Kirienko, preparation for the loading of nuclear fuel into the reactor will start in July-August. Speaking of the start of the station�s operation, Kirienko noted that �there is an agreed schedule�.

�There are no unresolved problems in mutual relations. Therefore, contractors are working with a swing,� the Rosatom head said. �Russia�s stand is the quicker the better, since the station has a high degree of readiness. The quicker it is put into operation, the better,� Kirienko stressed. �We shall do our utmost to complete this work as soon as possible,� he said.

<a href=""http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12301090&PageNum=0"" target="_blank">SOURCE</a>