Salehi: Iran plans to exploit uranium

A few days after Iran began injecting fuel into its first nuclear power plant, Iran's nuclear point man says the country plans to explore and exploit uranium.

"After Bushehr power plant, exploration and exploitation of uranium is on the agenda. This issue is going on well," Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday, Press TV reported.

Iran started loading fuel to the Bushehr power plant on Saturday in the presence of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The transfer of 163 fuel rods into the reactor at the plant is to be completed by September 5.

Iranian officials say they expect to use nuclear-generated electricity two or three months following the launch of the plant.

The completion of the plant was originally planned for 1999. However, extensive political and economic pressures by the US had delayed construction efforts.

Salehi further expressed hope feasability studies would be conducted across the country within the next eight years.

The senior nuclear official said fuel transfer into the main building of Bushehr reactor would take 12 days and expressed hope the electricity generated in the plant would be connected to the country's main electricity network within the next three months.