Is Iranian nuke safe?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 05 Mar 2011, 23:01

Repeated delays in the opening of a showpiece Iranian nuclear reactor are triggering concerns over Tehran's ability to safely run a civilian nuclear-power plant without the risk of a catastrophic accident, analysts say.

The worries have been provoked by the latest setback to hit the Bushehr plant, where, according to a report published last week on Iran's nuclear activities by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), engineers are being forced to remove 163 fuel rods. Russia's state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom -- whose scientists have helped to build the plant -- said this week that the action was needed after damage was discovered at one of the reactor's main cooling pumps.

It is the latest in a series of hitches for the reactor, whose construction has cost more than $1 billion.

the rest at http://www.rferl.org/content/bushehr_se ... 27325.html

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 06 Mar 2011, 02:42

Iranians running a Russian built/designed reactor!

What's worse, the Russian or the Iranian part?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 06 Mar 2011, 08:56

I'm a bit puzzled at this bit: "whose construction has cost more than $1 billion."

That sounds rather a bargain basement price. In Finland the Olkiluoto power station under construction has a fixed price of $4.1 billion with the constructors expected to make a loss.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 06 Mar 2011, 09:27

Maybe they left a nought off, Biff.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 06 Mar 2011, 10:14

Or maybe the builders give a discount for cash. I'm told by my Iranian friend that it's quite normal for multi-million dollar payments to be made in bundles of $100 dollar bills with fork-lift trucks a tool of transaction.