After more than thirty years of intermittent development, Iran’s first nuclear power plant, located in the southwestern Bushehr province, is scheduled to become operational in early 2011. The project was initiated in 1974 but discontinued in ’79. Various problems have postponed the project ever since the Russians assumed command of the reactor’s construction. Officials have indicated that the reactor has passed all required tests.
Two months ago the Russian energy minister, citing undisclosed technical problems, said that it would be unlikely that the reactor would become operational in 2010—as originally planned. This is in contrast to assumptions by political analysts that the delays were due to pressure from Western powers concerned with Iran’s intent to acquire nuclear weapons.
Read more at the BBC.
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