MOSCOW, May 12 (RIA Novosti) -Technopromexport, Russia's leading builder of energy facilities and electricity exporter, said Friday it had refused to build the Tabas thermal power plant in Iran.
"The lack of the Tabas thermal power plant construction project's profitability in Iran is the main reason for Technopromexport's refusal to join it," the company said.
Russia and Iran agreed to build the Tabas plant in 2001, but Technopromexport said the Iranian side had repeatedly postponed the beginning of construction work and had even held a tender despite agreements with Russia.
The company also said the project's costs had rocketed in the light of a sharp increase in metals prices.
The company statement comes against the backdrop of a call made by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's for the United States to launch direct talks with Iran to resolve the crisis around Tehran's controversial nuclear programs.
Annan urged the U.S., which has not ruled out military action against Iran, to join talks between European negotiators and Iran and boost diplomatic efforts in this sphere.
