Russia is proud of Bushehr nuclear power plant's project and is interested in boosting cooperation with Iranian corporations on oil and gas fields, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said, ISNA reported.
He praised Iran's Bushehr power plant project and added, "Iran's Bushehr power plant built by Russian cooperation will be accomplished Monday."
"We experienced different problems on the project as Iranians did. Today we are proud of the project as well which has drawn the attention of the whole world," he told a press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran.
Russian Energy Minister added, "I assure you we will continue our cooperation with Iran on launching Bushehr power plant and developing atomic energy in Iran's other projects."
As to Persian Gulf neighboring states' concern on the security of Bushehr power plant, Shmatko said, "Bushehr power plant is built based on all international standards. We perceive the concern of the countries, but all tests conducted in the nuclear facility were approved by all international processes and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). There is no deviation from international standards."
He noted, "We believe there is a great transparency in launching Bushehr power plant due to respecting the experts' work and the presence of international bodies."
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on his part said, "The official ceremony for pre-launching Bushehr power plant will be held on Monday and then the power plant will be connected to the national grid."
"Bushehr power plant has achieved 35 to 40 percent of its nominal power reaching 350-400 megawatt. We hope the plant reach its outmost power of 900 to 1000 megawatt," he added.
Salehi continued, "The power plant will be disconnected for different tests some time after the connection. The tests might take several weeks. The power plant will regain the power and will obtain its 100 percent power of 900-1000 megawatt."
Salehi expressed hope all the projects would be accomplished over the next two or three months to be handed to Iranian engineers and technicians in charge of the power plant.
He added, "At the moment, Iranian engineers work on the power plant, but Russian engineers are observing the process."
The Bushehr NPP, the first nuclear power plant in Iran and throughout the Middle East, has been connected to Iran's electricity network on Sept. 4 and has supplied about 60 megawatt of electricity to the country's electric network since its connection to the grid.
The final production capacity of Bushehr NPP is 1000 megawatt electricity.
The plant began to be built by the German Kraftwerk Union in 1974. In 1980 the contract was terminated during the Western German government's accession to the U.S. embargo on supplying equipment to Iran.
On Aug. 25, 1992, Russia and Iran signed an agreement to continue construction of the nuclear power plant. In January 1995, a contract to complete work on the first power unit was signed, and in 1998 construction management was transferred to AtomStroyExport.
Initially, construction of the station was planned for completion in 1999. Later, the deadlines were repeatedly postponed due to financial and technological challenges.