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February 5, 2009

Russia Says Iranian Nuclear Plant Set to Open This Year
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2215BFD:A6F02AD83191E160EFCBD7EBC56B4205D937473925D9872C&
 
Nuclear Power chief Sergei Kiriyenko says Bushehr nuclear plant should
go online by end of 2009 
A general view shows the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power
plant in southern Iran (File)Russia's nuclear power chief says his
country plans to start up the Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran this year.
Sergei Kiriyenko told Russian media Thursday that assuming nothing
unexpected happens, the launch will go as planned before the end of
2009. He said there are no unresolved questions with his Iranian
counterparts regarding the technical start-up. Kiriyenko said he plans
to travel to the Bushehr construction site later this month. Russia
began working on the project in 1995, and says it has already delivered
the fuel to get Iran's first nuclear power plant running. The plant's
opening has frequently been delayed. In the past, Iranian officials have
blamed the delays, in part, on foreign sanctions related to its disputed
nuclear program. Officials say Bushehr will be capable of producing
about 1,000 megawatts of electricity a year.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.


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