Iran Test Runs First Nuclear Power Plant

Source: Al-Manar TV, 25-02-2009

Iran began a test run on its nuclear power plant in Bushehr on Wednesday. According to Iranian reports, the pilot operation was carried out using virtual fuel rods and not real ones.
The reactor's technical head Mohsen Shirazi told the Fars news agency that if this experiment is successful, tests will move on to the coming stages. According to the report, the experiment is meant to test the various technical systems installed in the reactor. Virtual fuel has been loaded into the plant, and the material consists of lead that is meant to imitate enriched uranium needed to run the plant.

Experts believe, in the event that Wednesday's pilot is successful, that the next experiment will be carried out with real fuel rods by the end of the year.
Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Gholamreza Aghazadeh and Russian Rosatom agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko arrived at Bushehr Wednesday morning and inspected the process under heavy media coverage by local and foreign reporters.

The two are scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday evening, in which they will detail the experimental stages and give the date set for the start of the reactor's full operation, after many years of delays.
Russia took over construction of the plant in 1994 but completion has been delayed due to a number of factors, particularly Western accusations that Iran's nuclear program is cover for a weapons drive, something Tehran strongly denies.