Officials said the Bushehr nuclear reactor would not be linked to Iran's
electricity grid until at least the spring of 2011. They acknowledged delays
at the 1,000 megawatt reactor constructed by Russia and believed hampered by
the Stuxnet computer worm.
"We hope that on Farvardin 20 [April 9] we will witness the connection
of the plant to the national grid," Iranian Atomic Energy Agency Ali Akhbar
Salehi said.
Also In This Edition
In a statement on Jan. 28, Salehi did not explain the latest delays but
said Bushehr has begun operations, Middle East Newsline reported. In November, Salehi said Bushehr
would begin electricity generation by January 2011.
"The reactor has started its operation and the next step is to reach
critical phase, which will take place by the end of Bahman [Feb. 20],"
Salehi said. "We have said before that because of some tests, we may face delays
but these delays would last around a week or two."
Salehi and other officials acknowledged penetration by Stuxnet. But he
said Stuxnet was blocked from entering the reactor's main systems.
"We are pursing work with the Russians while observing all the safety
issues," Salehi said.
ShareThis
