Iran is set to load fuel into the core of its first nuclear power plant, the Bushehr power plant.

Iran had begun fuelling the plant in August, however the spread of computer virus, Stuxnet, has delayed power generation at the plant by several months to early 2011, according to Reuters.

The $1bn plant is eventually expected to generate 1,000MW of electricity, about 2.5% of the country’s power needs.

Russia will supply the enriched uranium for the reactor and take away spent fuel.

Iran has been under international pressure to halt enriching uranium, as the West fears that the country aims to make nuclear weapons.