Iran set to take temporary control of Bushehr NPP: AEOI chief

Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi says the first unit of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is set to be temporarily handed over to Iranians.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that Iranian technicians will take over at the plant on Monday.

“During the temporary handover, Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant must operate for two years, or 7,000 hours,” Salehi said, adding that the plant will be under Russian warranty during the period.

“After these two years, the power plant, which is already operated by Iranians, will be fully controlled by us,” the Iranian official added.

Salehi said a number of Russian technicians will remain in Iran over the next two years so that Iran could make use of their technical assistance.

Iran’s nuclear chief added that the construction of the second unit of the Bushehr NPP will begin in the near future.

Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan said earlier in September that Moscow was ready to increase its nuclear cooperation with Tehran even after the Islamic Republic takes full control of the Russian-built Bushehr NPP.

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant became officially operational and was connected to Iran’s national grid in September 2011, generating electricity at 40 percent capacity.

The 1,000-megawatt plant, which is operating under the full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reached its maximum power generation capacity in August 2012.

Iran and Russia have assured the international community that the plant is fully compliant with high-level safety standards and the IAEA safeguards.