(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In a special ceremony on Monday, the Bushehr nuclear power plant was temporarily connected to the national grid, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Director General Sergei Kirienko, AEOI Director Fereydoun Abbasi, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou, and a number of MPs attended the ceremony held to celebrate the initial launch of the Bushehr nuclear plant. Reportedly, the power plant has reached 40 percent it power generation capacity. According to an official at the Bushehr power plant, after the initial launch, the power plant will be disconnected from the national grid and will undergo some technical tests. The AEOI has announced that the power plant will reach its full capacity in November. The plant, which is located near the port city of Bushehr on the coast of the Persian Gulf, will generate 1000 megawatts of electricity once it becomes fully operational. The power plant first was launched in August 2010 as engineers loaded 163 fuel rods into the reactor under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the AEOI announced that the power plant will be connected to the national grid by February 20. But in February, Iran unloaded fuel from the reactor due to safety concerns. Later, Iranian engineers in cooperation with Russian experts completed the reloading of the reactor.Iranian and Russian experts have given permission for the initial launch of the power plant after carrying out rigorous safety tests and inspections. Iran offers consultancy service to other countries During the ceremony, the AEOI director said that the Islamic Republic is ready to provide consultancy service to other countries, which intend to use nuclear energy for peaceful applications. Abbasi also said that the completion of the Bushehr power plant is a promising event, which will help expansion of relations between Iran and Russia. Elsewhere in his remarks, he reassured that highest safety standards have been applied in the construction of the power plant. Launch of Bushehr power plant, a great honor for Russia The Russian energy minister also said that the launch of the Bushehr power plant is great honor for Russia. “Iran has joined the club of advanced countries, which possess (the technology to develop) nuclear energy. Russia is greatly proud of playing an important role to help Iran join the club,” Shmatko said. He also described the Bushehr power plant as the symbol of Iran-Russia cooperation and said that Tehran-Moscow nuclear cooperation will not be limited to the Bushehr plant. On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Nuclear Power Production and Development Co. of Iran and Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation signed two protocols on the continuation of nuclear cooperation./129
