The first unit at Bushehr has capacity to generate
1,000 megawatts.
The power plant will initially work at 40 percent
capacity under the supervision of Russian experts.
Officials said the plant could reach 100 percent
of its generating capacity by the end of 2011.
Under a bilateral agreement, approved by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russia
will operate the plant, supply fuel and take away
the spent fuel for the next two or three years,
but will eventually hand over full control to
Iran.
The construction of Bushehr took more than three
decades and was dogged by delays.
Russia signed a contract with Iran in February
1995 to complete the plant, which German companies
first began back in 1975.
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and head
of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom)
Sergei Kiriyenko attended the ceremony.
(IANS/RIA Novosti)
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