Introduction
Nuclear Power
The Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) is currently in the process of starting a new nuclear power unit at Bushehr with a capacity of 915 MWe. Commercial operation is expected in 2010. Fuel is supplied by the Russian Federation with spent fuel returned to the point of origin under full international safeguards. Russia's Atomstroyexport by the end of January 2008 had delivered the 163 fuel assemblies for the initial core of Bushehr plus 17 reserve ones - 82 tonnes of fuel in total. The fuel is enriched 1.6% to 3.62% and is under full international safeguards.
Enrichment
Iran has a major project developing uranium enrichment capability, known as the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), and in November 2008 the IAEA reported that 3800 centrifuges were operating, with more planned. By February 2009, a total of 9956 kg of UF6 had been fed into the plant and 1010 kg of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride (3.5% U-235) had been produced. A uranium conversion plant (UCF) at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre has 200 t/yr capacity and started up in 2005. It is under IAEA safeguards and the IAEA reported that to February 2009 it had produced 357 tU as UF6, ie 528 tonnes of UF6.A fuel manufacturing plant is being constructed at Isfahan from 2003, its stated purpose being to serve the IR-40 reactor and Bushehr. In February 2009, the IAEA noted that the production line for natural uranium fuel pellets for the heavy water reactor had been completed and fuel rods were being produced.
Waste management services are under the responsibility of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).