Russia to complete Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant by August

Amid chances of new sanctions on Iran,a top Russian atomic official has said that Bushehr nuclear plant,being constructed in the Islamic republic with Moscow’s assistance,will be operationalised by this August.

“Sanctions,which are being discussed regarding Iran,have nothing to do with Bushehr. Nobody has questions concerning this NPP,and it is clear for everybody that Bushehr is not a threat to the non-proliferation regime,” Chief of the Russian RosAtom Corporation Sergei Kiriyenko was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

The construction of Iran’s first nuclear power plant began in 1975 by Siemens. However,the work was terminated after Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and US sanctions.

Russia signed the contract with Iran in February 1998 to complete the USD 1 billion nuclear power plant.

Launch of the Bushehr NPP has been postponed several times due to financial disputes and technical reasons.

In the past,Iranian officials had hinted that Russia was reluctant to finish the facility due to international pressure.