ASIA: Azerbaijan will complete construction of nuclear reactor

By 2012, a nuclear reactor will be launched in Azerbaijan between the cities of Baku and Sumgait, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Makhmud Kerimov told reporters today.

According to him, the International Atomic Agency adopted Azerbaijan’s proposals and will render financial assistance to construction of a research reactor.

Kerimov noted: “Both gas and oil will be exhausted and there is no alternative to the nuclear power plant.”

In the Soviet years, construction of the Baku NPP was blocked under environmental safety reasons and high seismic activity in the area.