Russia Completes Training of Iranian Nuclear Scientists

Russia's Atomic Energy Ministry's training centre in Novovoronezh has trained 600 nuclear specialists from Iran, who are expected to work at the Russian-built nuclear power station in Bushehr.

A total of 707 Iranian engineers of over 30 specialities are expected to be trained in Novovoronezh. The Iranian specialists are living in separate flats in Novovoronezh. Many of them have brought their families to Russia.

The first group of Iranian engineers arrived in Novovoronezh three years ago, Behbudi said. The training periods range from three months to one-and-a-half years. "The longest term of training is for shift managers, while ordinary engineers are trained for three months," he said. The training is carried out on special mock-ups which are able to simulate all processes taking place at nuclear stations.

The launch of the first energy block of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is planned for 2005. All Iranian specialists have to be back in their country by that time.