国际英语新闻：Iran's nuclear power plant to begin operation in February

TEHRAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday Bushehr nuclear plant will join national grid in mid-February, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

"Injecting 163 fuel rods into the core of Bushehr reactor has started," Salehi said, adding that "Although it is an approximate date, we hope that if everything goes based on the schedule, we could witness the plant is connected to the national grid in mid- February."

Salehi referred to the power plant as "one of the most sensitive nuclear power plants in the world," the official IRNA news agency reported.

The construction of the nuclear plant began in 1975 by German companies, but was halted after the United States imposed embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran following Iran's 1979 revolution. Russia signed a contract with Tehran in 1995 to complete the construction.

Salehi appreciated the efforts of the Iranian and Russian experts who were involved in the construction and completion of Iran's first nuclear power plant, said IRNA.