Azerbaijan, Baku, September 23 /Trend N. Umid/
Iran temporarily took over the control of its Bushehr nuclear power plant from Russia, Iranian State IRINN TV reported.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi signed the protocol of the temporary hand over of the first phase of Bushehr NPP to Iran from Russian contractor.
Salehi accompanied by senior Iranian lawmakers and officials, including the Iranian energy minister during the official ceremony.
Salehi said that the nuclear plant has been in operation for 14 days before being handed over to Iran. During the period, the plant worked at 90 percent of its nominal capacity, i.e. 900 megawatts, he added.
"But for next two years or 7000 hours it will be under the Russian side's guarantee and a number of Russian experts will remain in place to give advice and technical assistance," he added.
Salehi also said that he expected work to start soon on a second plant upon completion of talks with Moscow, saying: "Negotiations are continuing and are well-advanced."
"Work will start soon," he added, without unveiling any exact date.
Construction of the Bushehr plant started in the 1970s with the help of German company Siemens, which quit the project after the 1979 Islamic revolution over concerns about nuclear proliferation.
In 1994, Russia agreed to complete the plant and provide fuel for it for 10 years, with the supply deal committing Iran to returning the spent fuel, amid Western concerns over its controversial uranium enrichment programme.
Work began in 1995 but it was completed only in 2011 after multiple delays, and full capacity was achieved only this year after further hitches.