Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant progressing well - Russian minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Moscow, Dec 6, IRNA -- The final stage of construction of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant is moving forward at a good pace, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Saturday.

Shmatko made the remark in a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

In the meeting, Shmatko briefed Putin on his recent visit to Iran, where he visited the Bushehr facility and participated in a meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.

Shmatko toured the reactor site earlier this week with Ali Akbar Salehi, the new head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

Following his inspection, the Russian energy minister said he expected the plant to be ready soon.

Electricity generation in the powerplant is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

During the meeting with Putin, Shmatko discussed the approaches of the Russian delegation at the forthcoming meeting in Qatar of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

Prior to his Tehran visit, Shmatko had told a press conference in Moscow that Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will be operational based on the schedule per an agreement with the Iranian officials and there is no problem with the Iranian party in that concern.

He had said works are progressing well and systems are tested in Bushehr Power Plant.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 827192