1st VP to open logistic units of Bushehr nuclear power plant

The logistic units of Bushehr nuclear power plant including its pump house and 400-KW power station will be commissioned on Tuesday in the presence of First Vice President Parviz Davoudi, Vice President and Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Reza Aqazadeh as well as his deputies.

The logistic units of the power plant were primarily expected to be commissioned on March 13, 2007, but it was postponed to April 3.

Meanwhile, the fuel units of Bushehr nuclear power plant are also ready for operation.

Deputy Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) for international affairs, Mohammad Saeedi, had also declared earlier that the technical and legal grounds have been prepared for dispatch of fuel to Bushehr nuclear power station.

The Russian Atom Stroi Export Co. started the construction of Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr in 1995.

Based on the fifth agreement signed by Iran and Russia on September 26, 2006, the Russian contractor accepted commitment to finalize the power plant project in September of 2007.

Though it also accepted to supply the required fuel six months prior to its commissioning, namely in March 2007, Atom Stroi Export Co. has not yet dispatched it.

The Russian company claimed towards the end of the past Iranian year (ended March 20) that it was unable to complete the project on schedule, given that Iran had not complied with its financial commitments on time.

In response to the Russian contractor, Iran dismissed such a claim and declared that it had fully fulfilled its commitments on schedule.

Following extensive talks between Iran and Russia on the issue, despite the developments taking place over the past weeks, the Russian side declared that Iran has resumed paying the relevant funds to the Russian contractor and is attempting to carry out its commitments.