Russian Minister of Nuclear Energy Alexander Rumyantsev in a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday with Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Gholam-Reza Shafei said there is no obstacle to sending fuel for Bushehr nuclear power plant, IRNA reported.

The two sides also discussed the general trend of the two nations nuclear cooperation, the progress in the Bushehr power plant operational phases and the return of spent fuel to Russia.

The Russian energy minister said, "Moscow has always had good ties with Iran and our position regarding ties with Tehran have not changed."

He also stressed on speedy completion of Bushehr nuclear power plant saying he is ready to make a trip to closely inspect the construction and remove possible technical operational snags. "We can also begin preliminary discussions on building the second phase of Bushehr power plant," he said.

Following the signing of an addendum to the contract, return of spent fuel to Russia and its related documents, fuel for the power plant will be sent, he said.

For his part, Shafei alluded to the 'useful comments offered on the part of Russian officials' regarding the recent Tehran decisions on its nuclear program.

Hopefully, following Iran's announcement on signing the additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the two countries will forge closer cooperation.

He said the Russia should follow up its commitments in building the Bushehr power plant so it can be completed on schedule.

Russian specialists have worked on the power plant's initial phase since 1995. The completion rate is nearing 80-85 percent. Under the newly-agreed schedule the reactor is to become operational in the first months of 2005. About 1,500 Russian specialists are building the power plant.

Over one hundred Russian enterprises are involved in the project in the capacity of providers. The first reactor's estimated cost is nearly one billion dollars.

Also, the last group of Iranian shift engineers for the Bushehr nuclear power plant has completed a course of training at the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant in Russia.

By that time of the completion of the first phase of the power plant a total of 700 Iranian specialists will have been trained at the training site.

Over 300 specialists have already completed training with the use of simulators approximating all conceivable processes at an operating nuclear power plant.

Last group of Iranian shift engineers for Bushehr trained

Voronezh, Russia, Oct 29, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- The last group of Iranian shift engineers for the Bushehr nuclear power plant has completed a course of training at the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant in Russia.

The graduation examinations were attended by representatives of an Iranian government agency, the chief of the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant training center, Alexander Ivanchenko told Tass.

The first reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant is scheduled to go into operation in the first months of 2005. By that time a total of 700 Iranian specialists will have been trained at Novovoronezh in more than 30 specialties.

Over 300 specialists have already completed training with the use of simulators approximating all conceivable processes at an operating nuclear power plant.

The engineers trained in the last group will be responsible for commanding work shifts.

"They are competent specialists with university degrees. Some received higher education in European countries. They have in-depth knowledge of how a nuclear power plant works and should be run," Ivanchenko said.