A special ceremony was held for the initial launching of Iran’s first nuclear power plant pumping out electricity at up to 40 per cent capacity

A special ceremony was held Monday for the initial launching of Iran's first nuclear power plant pumping out electricity at up to 40 per cent capacity a step that is widely considered a major step forward in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

The Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant, which officials on Monday said could begin full-power operations in December, is a cornerstone of Iran's drive to become a technological leader among Muslim nations with efforts such as a space program and long-range missile development.

Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Director General Sergei Kirienko, AEOI Director Fereydoun Abbasi, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou, and a number of MPs attended the ceremony.

According to an official at the Bushehr power plant, after the initial launch, the power plant will be disconnected from the national grid and will undergo some technical tests.

The plant, which is located near the port city of Bushehr on the coast of the Persian Gulf, will generate 1000 megawatts of electricity once it becomes fully operational. "The facility will reach its full capacity - that means 1,000 megawatts - in December,'' Fereidoun Abbasi, the Iranian vice-president was quoted as saying.

During the ceremony, the AEOI director said that the Islamic Republic is ready to provide consultancy service to other countries, which intend to use nuclear energy for peaceful applications.

According to foreign media, Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the agency's board Monday that he is "increasingly concerned" with possible military aspects of Iran's nuclear program. He called on Tehran to cooperate fully with the IAEA inspectors.

RUSSIA’S GREAT HONOR

The Russian energy minister also said that the launch of the Bushehr power plant is great honor for Russia. “Iran has joined the club of advanced countries, which possess (the technology to develop) nuclear energy. Russia is greatly proud of playing an important role to help Iran join the club,” Sergei Shmatko said.

Shmatko said Russia will continue its nuclear cooperation with the Iranian government and is ready to assist Tehran in the construction of other nuclear power plants.

He also described the Bushehr power plant as the symbol of Iran-Russia cooperation and said that Tehran-Moscow nuclear cooperation will not be limited to the Bushehr plant. 

Sergei Kiriyenko, chief of the Russian company Rosatom, called Monday's launch a "big celebration" and a symbol of Tehran-Moscow cooperation.