Iran's Bushehr nuke plant in pre-launch final testing stages

Tehran, Aug 28 (ANI): Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant is in final testing stages of its launching, the country's Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Deputy Head Mohammad Ahmadian has said.

The statement comes after AEOI head Fereidoon Abbasi had earlier said his country was planning to official inaugurate Bushehr nuclear power plant in mid-November or in December.

"We hope that the plant will join the national power grid, based on the specified time line," Ahmadian said.

He said parts of the tests on the plant's turbines were carried out in the past days and the final tests are being conducted currently and that the plant's reactors will be tested after the turbines' test are over.

He described the plant's joining into the national grid as a "lengthy process" and said it must be done in phases to ensure that the plant functions properly.

He underlined safety as AEOI's "top priority" in launching the Bushehr plant, Xinhua reports.

Though construction of the Bushehr plant began in 1975, it was abruptly halted when the United States imposed a supplies embargo on Iran after the 1979 revolution.

Completion of the plant's construction has been postponed several times due to technical and financial challenges and pressure from the United States. (ANI)