Iran’s Only Nuclear Power Plant Makes Emergency Shut Down

Iran’s only nuclear power plant has shut down for repairs. The Bushehr plant shutdown began on Saturday and is set to last for three to four days, according to Iranian officials. It is the first time that the plant, located in southern Iran and opened in 2011, has shut down. State television reportedly called it an unexplained temporary emergency shutdown.

State electric energy company official Gholamali Rakhshanimehr said during a television interview that Iranians could be subject to power outages during the shutdown, according to reports.

The Bushehr plant was constructed with the help of Russia, and is fueled by uranium produced in Russia. Iran has said in recent months that it had not been able to purchase parts and equipment for the plant from Russia due to crippling economic sanctions placed on it by the United States in 2018 when it left the nuclear agreement with Iran and other world powers.

Iran has experienced explosions and other technical problems at some of its nuclear sites in recent months and years that it has blamed on the US and Israel.