Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW146
2008-01-18 15:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
BUSHEHR TIMELINE: ATOMSTROYEXPORT PERSPECTIVE
how-toVZCZCXRO6249 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHMO #0146 0181531 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181531Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6218 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000146
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2018
TAGS: KNNP ENRG PREL RS IR
SUBJECT: BUSHEHR TIMELINE: ATOMSTROYEXPORT PERSPECTIVE
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000146
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2018
TAGS: KNNP ENRG PREL RS IR
SUBJECT: BUSHEHR TIMELINE: ATOMSTROYEXPORT PERSPECTIVE
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Summary: The Bushehr reactor could be ready for
initial start-up by the end of 2008 if there are no major
supply or technical problems, Atomstroyexport representatives
told the Embassy. Initial start-up would be followed by
about four to five months of tests before the reactor
(assuming the tests identify no serious problems) would be
able to reach full power. End Summary.
2. (C) Embassy EST met January 11 with Leonid Yanko, Head of
the Atomstroyexport External Affairs Division, his deputy,
Dr. Alexey Ubeev, and the Director of Public Relations for
Atomstroyexport, Irena Yesipova. Yanko confirmed that two of
the eight fuel shipments to Bushehr had arrived and that the
third would be delivered "soon." Total fuel shipments will
amount to 82 metric tons. Yanko stated that the February
2008 time frame for completion of fuel assembly delivery was
still achievable. He identified the absence of equipment,
not fuel, as the major impediment to moving the Bushehr
reactor toward initial start-up. A South Korean
subcontractor, and perhaps other suppliers, were late in
delivery of essential equipment.
3. (C) Yanko and Ubeev affirmed that, if the equipment
arrives and pre-start-up checks go well, the Bushehr reactor
could be ready for initial start-up by the end of 2008.
Following start-up, the reactor would undergo months of
intensive checks at intermediate power levels before it
reached the 100 percent power level. Any failures or
physical problems would delay the process. Yanko estimated
that after criticality is achieved (enough fuel in the core
to achieve a sustained nuclear reaction) it would take a
minimum of four to five months before the reactor could be at
full power. However, both he and Ubeev refused to offer any
specific dates, stressing that any number of factors could
result in delay.
4. (C) Yesipova underlined that the Bushehr reactor is
incorporating previous elements from the earlier German
construction. Checks will thus take longer, since this makes
Bushehr a "pilot plant," without a proven design. For that
reason, she too cautioned that estimates on start-up and the
reaching of full power are especially precarious.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2018
TAGS: KNNP ENRG PREL RS IR
SUBJECT: BUSHEHR TIMELINE: ATOMSTROYEXPORT PERSPECTIVE
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Summary: The Bushehr reactor could be ready for
initial start-up by the end of 2008 if there are no major
supply or technical problems, Atomstroyexport representatives
told the Embassy. Initial start-up would be followed by
about four to five months of tests before the reactor
(assuming the tests identify no serious problems) would be
able to reach full power. End Summary.
2. (C) Embassy EST met January 11 with Leonid Yanko, Head of
the Atomstroyexport External Affairs Division, his deputy,
Dr. Alexey Ubeev, and the Director of Public Relations for
Atomstroyexport, Irena Yesipova. Yanko confirmed that two of
the eight fuel shipments to Bushehr had arrived and that the
third would be delivered "soon." Total fuel shipments will
amount to 82 metric tons. Yanko stated that the February
2008 time frame for completion of fuel assembly delivery was
still achievable. He identified the absence of equipment,
not fuel, as the major impediment to moving the Bushehr
reactor toward initial start-up. A South Korean
subcontractor, and perhaps other suppliers, were late in
delivery of essential equipment.
3. (C) Yanko and Ubeev affirmed that, if the equipment
arrives and pre-start-up checks go well, the Bushehr reactor
could be ready for initial start-up by the end of 2008.
Following start-up, the reactor would undergo months of
intensive checks at intermediate power levels before it
reached the 100 percent power level. Any failures or
physical problems would delay the process. Yanko estimated
that after criticality is achieved (enough fuel in the core
to achieve a sustained nuclear reaction) it would take a
minimum of four to five months before the reactor could be at
full power. However, both he and Ubeev refused to offer any
specific dates, stressing that any number of factors could
result in delay.
4. (C) Yesipova underlined that the Bushehr reactor is
incorporating previous elements from the earlier German
construction. Checks will thus take longer, since this makes
Bushehr a "pilot plant," without a proven design. For that
reason, she too cautioned that estimates on start-up and the
reaching of full power are especially precarious.
BURNS