If true, that will make the plant just under 13 years late.
However, 10 days before Sajjadi announced the time, the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Fereydun Abbasi-Davani, said no one could give a date because the plant is going through a final checkout and, if any problem is uncovered, time would be needed to resolve that problem. “Thus, one cannot set a specific date for the inauguration,” he said.
Ambassador Sajjadi also said that the ceremony for the link to the national grid would be attended by Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko. A few weeks ago, other officials assured the public that the ceremony would be attended by either President Dmitry Medvedev or Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Russia signed a contract in 1995 to complete the Bushehr plant in January 1999.
On January 28, Davani’s predecessor, current Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, said the plant would be tied to the national grid by February 20. In early May, other officials said the linkup would be made in early July.