BUSHEHR Laying foundations of steam power generator of the country's first nuclear reactor in Bushehr started Monday in a ceremony attended by a group of members of Iranian Parliament, According to IRNA.

Power Plants Deputy of Iran's Nuclear Power Organization Assadollah Sabouri in the ceremony said that first the Germans constructed the buildings of the power plant and later in order to match those structures with the Russian standards, certain infrastructure alterations were needed.

Sabouri added, "Some parts of the huge cement building was totally demolished in order to rebuild it in a way to match the machinery provided by the Russians for the purpose, including the steam engine reactor whose laying foundations began today."

He also said that the current phase of building the steam reactor structure is the first executive move made by he Russians, following deep studies, various surveys and examining the various materials used in construction of the Bushehr Power Plant.

Sabouri said that upon completion of the current process of laying foundations, the main nuclear reactor already manufactured in Russia and now on its way to Iran will be installed.

Elaborating on the specifications of the construction plan underway, the Iranian official said some 3,000 cubic meters of cement will be used for the foundation work by an Iranian engineering company under the direct supervision of the Russians in charge of the project.

He said some 51.5 percent of the executive work of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is already completed during the first phase of the project.

He also said based on the contract signed with the Russians, the first unit of the Bushehr Power Plant must be completed by the end of the Iranian year 1382 (March 19, 2004).

Sabouri said that the manufacturing process of the machinery required for Iran's first nuclear power plant is relatively satisfactory and the first batch of the nuclear facilities manufactured for the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will arrive at the plant's ground in near future.

According to him, upon completion of the first unit of the power plant in Bushehr, 1,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity will be generated in 2004.

Sabouri said that no contract has still been signed with any country for the completion of the second phase of the Bushehr plant.

The Head of the Parliament's Energy Commission Mostafa Taheri said that keeping in mind that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is Iran's first experience in this important field, much care must be taken in its various phases of planning and executive stages to meet international standards.

Another Iranian MP Azimi said, "The members of the Parliament's Energy Commission are now well aware of the executive process of Iran's nuclear plant and the problems with which Iran's Nuclear Energy Organization is entangled. Therefore, the Parliament will do all within its capabilities to solve such problems and to tackle practical ways out of the existing legal difficulties."

Members of the Parliament's Energy Commission visited the various parts of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, including the buildings for reactors, turbines, channel for cooling water, laboratories, workshops and assembly halls.

A Russian official had said in March that Iran would sign up for a second Russian-built nuclear reactor once the delayed first one are completed.

The Russian government made the commitment to support Iran's nuclear power program during Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's visit to Moscow earlier in March.

A Russian official assured President Khatami that if Iran would sign up for a second Russian-built nuclear reactor once the delayed first one is completed, they will make up for inconvenience caused for the Iranians.

Upon his arrival in Tehran from his Russian visit, President Khatami too had said that Russia has agreed to expedite the delayed construction of Bushehr Power Plant in southern Iran.

Construction of the plant is being carried out in accordance with a plan which Russia signed in September 1998, committing itself to finish the project over a 52-month span.

The Bushehr Power Plant started by Germany but after their withdrawal, Russians took over in August 1992. Delays caused by incompatibility between Russian and German technologies mean the project will not be completed before 2004 - five years behind schedule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would abide by its previous commitments to complete the Bushehr Power Plant.