Technical Difficulties Impede Bushehr Reactor

Russia’s construction of the Bushehr light-water nuclear reactor for electricity generation in Iran continues to be plagued by technical problems, Middle East Newsline reported last week (see GSN, Aug. 5).

Russian officials said adapting the nuclear reactor core to Iranian specifications has been the primary hurdle.

“The Iranians have changed their specifications several times and this has been a key challenge in completing the reactor on schedule,” one official said.

Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency chief Alexander Rumyantsev has acknowledged the difficulties but said they would not delay completion of the project (Middle East Newsline, Sept. 19).

Rumyantsev said Bushehr was on schedule for completion next year and that Tehran would receive its first fuel shipment from Moscow by early in the year, IRNA reported.

“At present, the preparatory measures for supply and shipment of the atomic fuel for Bushehr nuclear power station are under way under the supervision of [International Atomic Energy Agency] experts,” Rumyantsev said (IRNA/Payvand.com, Sept. 21).

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