Iran will start its first nuclear power plant in mid 2008. It’s the firststep towards the goal set by Iran of producing 20, 000 MW electricity throughnuclear energy by 2028.

The first nuclear power plant of Iran will start functioningin mid 2008. The Bushehr nuclear power station will generate electricity at 50%of its 1,000 Megawatt (MW) capacity this year, according to Manouchehr Mottaki,Foreign Minister of Iran, as per the news published by Voanews .

This announcement came after two days, on December 19, 2007,when Iran received second consignment of enriched uranium from Russia. However,the plant is still building.

Iranian officials said that the grounds would be ready forinjection of nuclear fuel after completion of the nuclear fuel by Russia. Itwould be take place in eight stages. Iran is planning to generate 20, 000 MWelectricity through nuclear energy by 2028 to meet its soaring energyrequirements. It also says that a 360 MW nuclear power plant is under constructionin the Southwest Khuzestan province.

However, the construction was halted due to payment disputesbetween Russia and Iran. Russia started sending internationally superviseddeliveries of nuclear fuel to Iran in the month of December 2007 under some conditions,which say that it would return all the used fuel to Russia. Russia is likely todeliver 82 Tons of nuclear fuel to Iran for running the reactor.

Russia said that uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel makesit unnecessary for Iran to enrich its own fuel. United States and its westernallies are accusing Iran for developing nuclear arms under the guise ofcivilian nuclear program. On the other hand, Iran says that its nuclear programis only for generating electricity. Iran also says that it needs its ownnuclear fuel to supply fuel to a series of reactors it is planning toconstruct.

According to a Research Analyst at RNCOS , “Iran generates electricity primarilyby conventional methods - thermal and hydroelectric power generations. However,both the sources of power generation are not environment friendly. Hence,nuclear power is a viable option that can provide clean energy to Iran to meetits energy requirements. Iran is a developing country and its energy needs aregrowing with its growth. So its shift towards nuclear power will help it tomeet its fast growth and growing electricity demand.”

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