29.08.2010
On August 21 under the supervision of IAEA inspectors the supply of fresh nuclear fuel to the reactor compartment of "Bushehr" NPP (the Islamic Republic of Iran) started. This event marks the completion of the commissioning stage for all systems of the plant, built with Russian specialists assistance, and the beginning of physical start-up of the Power unit. Present at the occasion were Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice-president of Iran and Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Sergey Kiriyenko, General Director of State Corporation "Rosatom" and Nikolay Kutjin, Head of Federal Environmental Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia, who personally got to know the course of works at the plant.
Representative of General contractor of NPP "Bushehr" construction - Deputy Head of Division for NPP Construction in Iran – Site Director Igor Mezenin reported to the authorities of Atomic Industry of Russia and Iran on the course of current commissioning operations taking place at the plant. He made report on the milestones of project implementation, having marked its uniqueness in the world practice. General constructor Atomstroyexport JSC and Russian and Foreign Partners managed to implement unprecedented integration of Russia-produced equipment in civil construction performed under German design. During the construction of first NPP in Iran a diversity of unique technical ideas and know-how were applied.
press release the official part of the occasion Mohammad Akhmadian, Vice-president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of NPPD Co and Dan Belenkiy, President of "Atomstroyexport" JSC signed memorable certificate on the beginning of NPP "Bushehr" physical start-up.
Ali Akhbar Salekhi, Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran expressed assurance, that cooperation between Russia and Iran in the field of atomic energy has great prospects. The completion of NPP construction is of a great significance to Iran. The work of NPP will provide security of energy supply of the Islamic Republic of Iran and conditions for further industrial and economic development of the country. Earlier Mr. Salekhi stated that “according to the Parliament decision of Iran, in nearest 15-20 years we must reach 200000 MW of yearly output and Russia will have priority in implementation of this task.”
- NPP "Bushehr" project – proves the efficiency of international cooperation, which mechanisms Rosatom uses actively to promote Russian high technologies, - stated Sergey Kiriyenko, General Director of State Corporation "Rosatom". – The NPP construction is fully compliant with applicable international standards, legislation, nonproliferation regime and is being implemented under IAEA supervision.
Project history:
"Atomstroyexport" JSC is in the process of completion of NPP "Bushehr" construction, which was started in 1974 by German concern Kraftwerk Union A.G. (Siemens/KWU). In 1980 Concern terminated the contract with Iranian customer because of the German Government decision to join the USA embargo on equipment supplies in Iran.
On August 24, 1992 a treaty on cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy was signed between Governments of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and on August 25, 1992 an agreement on the NPP construction in Iran was made.
In January 1995 the contract for the completion of the Unit-1 of NPP "Busher" construction was signed. In 1998 the addendum to the contract was signed, according to which Atomstroyexport was to finish construction of Unit-1 with power capacity of 1000 MW and V-446 reactor type on “turn-key” terms. Practically Russian side started counting out the running time of construction of the NPP "Bushehr" from 1998. Supply of main technological equipment for NPP started in 2001.
At the end of November 2009 Hydro tests of the first circuit of the NPP "Bushehr" Unit-1, the most important event at the final stage of NPP construction, were successfully completed. Equipment pressure testing with pressure about 40% higher than operation conditions proved safety and high assurance coefficient of technological systems of NPP "Bushehr". In February 2010 the leaktightness and strength testing of Hermetic Enclosure Systems was successfully conducted. On July 7, 2010 one of the main stages of the Unit commissioning – hot operational testing of nuclear steam generating plant was completed. At this stage equipment shakedown and equipment operation test of the reactor plant and supplementary technological systems were implemented in design conditions. With account of the hot operational testing results the inspection and validation of the Unit-1 main equipment condition and the equipment preparation for physical start-up were implemented.
