IAEA Reaffirms Safety of Bushehr Power Plant

  The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) senior safety assessment officer, Christer Viktorsson Monday said the Bushehr Atomic Power Plant will come on stream and be used according to international norms and standards like all other atomic power plants in the world. “Safety and environmental plans of the power plant were compiled earlier and the agency, within the framework of cooperation projects, has observed the plan regarding its safety and in a way that regional countries have been provided assurances about its safety. The launch of the plant will be safe and there will be no environmental problems either. Furthermore, the agency, in another project, will assess the power plant in 2009 when it becomes operational,“ said Viktorsson in response to a question by ISNA about the alleged concerns of some regional countries about the safety of the Bushehr plant.  He went on to emphasize that upon the examination and appraisal of the team of inspectors from different countries this assurance will be provided that the plant can be launched and used according to international standards. “Iran and IAEA have cooperated for a long time regarding the safety of the power plant,“ he noted.  The IAEA official underlined the importance of continuation of cooperation between Iran and the agency. Viktorsson visited Tehran to represent the IAEA at the first international conference themed ’Nuclear Power Plants, Environment and Sustainable Development’.