Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko has said Russia is close to finishing the construction of Iran’s first nuclear power plant and is currently making final adjustments.
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Monday that the launch of the Bushehr nuclear plant in southern Iran may not take place before the end of this year, as earlier planned.
“We are fully committed to completing this project. Russia has already supplied fuel for the reactor that has been built, and currently start-up and adjustment work is underway. Close attention is being paid to ensuring the safety of the reactor’s work,” Nesterenko said.
“Upon completion of all necessary operations and tests, the reactor will be launched within the time frame agreed with the Iranian side,” he said.
Nesterenko said that Russian and Iranian specialists have yet to resolve certain technical problems.
He stressed that Russia’s work on the project is not affected by the international controversy over Iran’s nuclear program.
Russia has frequently delayed the launch of the plant in the Islamic Republic, citing financial or technical problems. Iran is at the center of an international dispute over its nuclear ambitions, amid Western suspicions that the program has military goals, and is subject to UN sanctions.
The $1 billion plant in southern Iran was expected to be launched in 2009.
Source RIA Novosti
Oh, wonderful.
Will we ever see a strike? I’ve been reading articles like this one -www.wepapers.com/Papers/23751/Strike_on_Iran_nuclear_sites_under_discussion_again – for years now.
Seems like now it’s closer than ever with the Russians not only helping to build by also fueling the Iranian nuclear facilities.