BUSHEHR -- Based on agreements reached between Iran and Russia, the first phase of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will become operational by early 2003, Naser Mansour Shariflou, head of the plant, said here on Tuesday.
The official added that with commissioning of the first phase of the plant, 1,000 megawatts of electricity will be added to the power grid of the country.
Domestic contractors have made good progress in the construction of the power plant building, while the manufacture of various parts of the power plant is underway in Russia, the official pointed out.
Shariflou added that after the final completion of the nuclear power plant 2,000 megawatts of electricity will be added to the national power grid.
According to the official, in addition to the newly manufactured equipment, many parts already built will also be deployed for completion of the plant.
Once the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant starts operation, many of the installations and equipment used in the plant could be used again in building new additional power plants, thus reducing the future costs considerably, Shariflou pointed out.
(IRNA)