Iran's nuclear power plant, which is yet under construction in the southern city of Bushehr, is expected to become operational by February 2003, Iran's official news agency (IRNA) reported, quoting press reports.
The Persian daily Jam-e Jam cited the head of the public relations office of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Khalil Musavi, as saying that construction of the plant is currently going on at full speed by Russian engineers.
Once operational, the plant will be capable of generating some 1000 megawatts of nuclear power during the first phase, Musavi said, adding that both Iran's President Mohammad Khatami and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had stressed completion of the plant, the agency said.
According to the daily, construction of the plant is being carried out in accordance with a plan which Russia signed in September 1998, committing itself to finish the project over a 52-month span, noting that, initially the project was considered for completion by the German Siemens Company. But the company pulled out of its commitments after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and after sanctions were imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran, in return has filed a countercharge against Germany to compensate for losses it allegedly incurred from the breach of agreement. Musavi put the figure, representing opposing claims by Iran and Germany, at over $1 billion -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
