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Iran to sign second reactor deal with Russia
Iran to sign second reactor deal with Russia
ST PETERSBURG, Russia, March 15 (Reuters) - A Russian official said
on Thursday that Iran will sign up for a second Russian-built nuclear
reactor once the delayed first one, which has already sparked U.S.
worries, has been completed.
Russia is helping Iran build a nuclear power plant at the Gulf port
of Bushehr. Iran says it is for civil use, but the United States has
worried it might help the Islamic Republic, which it dubs a "rogue
state," develop nuclear weapons.
"In principle, he (Iranian President Mohammed Khatami) confirmed that
as soon as the equipment for the first reactor leaves the factory, a
contract for a second reactor will be signed," Yevgeny Sergeyev, the
general director of the Izhorskiye Zavody plant, told journalists.
Khatami, on a visit to Russia, visited the plant in St Petersburg and
met Sergeyev.
The plant is making basic equipment for the first reactor, which it
plans to deliver in the third quarter of 2001.
Sergeyev said the first reactor had originally been scheduled for
completion by the end of 2002, but had now been put back to late 2003
or early 2004. Russia and Iran have been in talks before over the
construction of a second reactor.
Dressed in traditional Muslim cleric's robes, Khatami toured the
factory floor while Sergeyev explained the manufacturing process to
him.
Iran and Russia signed an $800 million deal for the first nuclear
power plant's construction in the mid-1990s, but it has since been
subject to delays.
Last week, the deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation,
Assadollah Sabouri, was quoted on state television as criticising
Russian contractors for the hold-ups.
Sabouri said the first unit, a 1,000 megawatt power station, was
"about 50 percent completed" and its main equipment would be
installed during the next Iranian year, which begins March 21.
The total construction cost of one reactor is between $800 million
and one billion.
NUCLEAR PLANTS, ARMS IRRITATE U.S.
The United States has put pressure on Russia to abandon the nuclear
power plant project as it sees Iran as one of the "rogue states" that
it says threaten world stability. It also puts North Korea and Libya
in this class.
It has also urged Russia to drop plans to resume supplying
conventional weapons to Iran, although Russian President Vladimir
Putin told Khatami earlier this week that Moscow was ready to go
ahead with the arms sales.
Tehran and Moscow insist the nuclear cooperation is of a strictly
civilian nature. They say arms will be defensive and the sale does
not violate Russia's international treaty obligations.
Sergeyev said Khatami was dissatisfied with the nuclear plant
construction delays, but added that the hold-ups were not connected
with his factory.
He said the deal for manufacturing equipment for a second reactor
could be signed by the end of 2002 or the start of 2003.
After leaving St Petersburg, Khatami travels to Kazan in Russia's
autonomous Tatarstan Republic where he will meet regional President
Mintimer Shaimiyev and visit a mosque. Tatarstan is one of Russia's
main Muslim provinces.
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Sandy Perle Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100
Director, Technical Extension 2306
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service Fax:(714) 668-3149
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Personal Website: http://sandyfl.nukeworker.net
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