Russia reports Iran's nuke power plant to be launched shortly

Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr could start working "shortly", Russia's state atomic agency Rosatom said Wednesday. "I have never announced the exact timing because our absolute priority is safety and the final decision will be made by the customer," Rosatom chief Sergei Kirienko told reporters. He added that Rosatom completely understands Iran's concerns because Bushehr is the first Iranian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). "We will test and check (the plant) for as long as it could be needed. The final works are underway and the plant should be launched shortly," Kirienko said, adding the launch time could come "before summer comes." Construction of the Bushehr plant started in 1974 by German companies. However, the work was halted when the United States imposed an embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran after the 1979 revolution. Russia signed a contract with Iran to complete the construction in 1998. Completion of the plant's construction has been postponed several times due to mounting technical and financial challenges and pressure from Washington. The plant's 1000-MW reactor was loaded in August 2010, which marked the start of the NPP's "physical life." Kirienko also said the Rosatom looks forward to participating in building more NPPs abroad, including in European countries.