Region | Iran
Russia and Iran agree on nuclear power station plan
Russia and Iran have settled all differences over the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station and agreed on a timetable for its completion, the Russian contractor building the station said on Thursday.
- Reuters
- Published: 15:16 December 13, 2007
Moscow: Russia and Iran have settled all differences over the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station and agreed on a timetable for its completion, the Russian contractor building the station said on Thursday.
Russia's role in building Bushehr, Iran's first nuclear power station, is a key element in a diplomatic dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"We have resolved all the problems with the Iranians," said Sergei Shmatko, president of state controlled Atomstroiexport, which is building the Bushehr atomic plant on the Gulf.
"We have agreed with our Iranian colleagues a timeframe for completing the plant and we will make an announcement at the end of December," Shmatko told reporters.
The United States, leading European Union nations and Israel say they suspect Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon and have pressed Moscow to drop the Bushehr project.
No evidence
But Russia says there is no evidence that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons and that the uranium Moscow intends to ship to fuel the Bushehr plant is too weak to develop a nuclear bomb.
Tehran says its nuclear programme is only intended to generate electricity.
Russia, which has used the Bushehr plant as a lever in relations with Tehran, has repeatedly put back the start-up date for the plant, citing millions of dollars in delayed payments from Iran. Iran always said it was up to date with payments.
Shmatko said those problems were all resolved, but did not give any details.
According to Russian forecasts, the first reactor at the Bushehr plant could be started up in 2008 and nuclear fuel would have to be shipped to Bushehr six months ahead of time.
"We absolutely, definitely intend to build the Bushehr atomic power station and intend definitely to deliver the fuel to the plant," said Shmatko, who added that Russia and Iran may form a joint venture to run the Bushehr station.
He gave no timeframe for the fuel delivery.
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