Iran brought the MENA region’s first nuclear power plant fully on-line last week after a troubled development. While Iran faces increasing problems in advancing its other nuclear projects, another four MENA nuclear programs are taking shape.
The 1.0gw capacity nuclear power plant at Bushehr in Iran reached full generating capacity on 1 September, bringing to a conclusion a frequently-delayed development program that began in the 1970s. Originally-planned by Germany’s Siemens, it was halted by the 1979 revolution. Construction work was only restarted in 2001, when Russian contractor Atommash laid new foundations (MEES, 8 October 2001). (CONTINUED - 1586 WORDS)
