The United States has called for Russia to halt work on the Bushehr NPP, but Russia has consistently rejected the demands, citing Iran's right to nuclear power under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Britain, France, and Germany earlier this week proposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic which would limit the Bushehr project but not ban it.
Alexander Glukhov said the NPP will come online in late 2007, and will be brought to full capacity in summer 2008.
Atomstroiexport is building Bushehr's first power unit under a $1 billion contract signed by Russia and Iran in 1995. The NPP, which is being constructed under the supervision of the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, was originally scheduled to be commissioned at the end of 2006.
A draft UN Security Council resolution drawn up by the three European nations proposes sanctions including banning the sale of missile and nuclear technology to Iran, and halting UN support for its nuclear programs. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled his objection to the draft in a statement Thursday.
Iran has been at the center of an international dispute this year over its nuclear ambitions. Some countries suspect the Islamic republic of pursuing a covert weapons program, but Tehran has consistently denied the claims and says it needs nuclear energy for civilian needs.
Russia's nuclear chief Sergei Kiriyenko said last month the Bushehr NPP will be commissioned in September 2007, and that power generation would begin two months later. In September 2006, Russia agreed to supply fuel to the plant in from March 2007, in time for the commissioning date.
"The construction of Bushehr NPP is close to an end," Glukhov said, adding that the company is in permanent contact with the Iranian side over Bushehr's first power unit.
"I want to highlight that Iran's Atomic Energy Organization is Atomstroiexport's strategic partner," he said.
The company wants Iran to coordinate closely with the UN nuclear watchdog in its nuclear program, he said.
