MOSCOW (Russian TV) – The spokesperson for the Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation, Sergey Novikov says the Bushehr nuclear power plant is harmless.

“I think it is a very strong signal that international society supports such peaceful projects as Bushehr, because everybody understands that you cannot use a power plant in a hypothetical military program,” Novikov told Russian TV.
“A nuclear power plant just generates electricity. There are two double-purpose elements – enrichment and spent fuel management. Both of these elements are taken out of Iranian responsibility, because we are going to supply the Bushehr power plant with nuclear fuel.”
Vladimir Sotnikov, a political analyst from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, says the opening of the nuclear plant demonstrates that ties between Russia and Iran are still strong.
“In the recent past there were some emotional statements on behalf of the Iranian leader, President Ahmadinejad, about the state of Iranian-Russian relations, but I think the nuclear commerce and nuclear industry are not affected by the statements. And I think that the trade relations between the Russian Federation and Islamic Republic of Iran are still good,” he told RT.
The Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, which is building the facility in Bushehr, announced that engineers will start loading the reactor with fuel on August 21, under strict control.
A Russian delegation, headed by Rosatom Director General Sergey Kiriyenko, will attend the launch ceremony.
The start date of the Bushehr power plant has been delayed a number of times.
Construction of the plant was started in 1974 by a German company, Kraftwerk Union A.G. (Siemens/KWU), but stopped shortly after the Islamic revolution in the country in 1979.
In 1995 Iran started cooperation with Russia, and in 1998 Russia signed up to complete the construction of the plant.
Works on Bushehr have been closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency and comply with all international norms and legislation.
The announced launch is attracting a lot of media attention, as Iran is under sanctions from the UN at the moment