Russia has reportedly announced that preparations for the launch of a nuclear power plant in Iran are scheduled to begin this autumn.

Chief of Russian nuclear power agency Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, added that the company working on the project is completing the final stages of the power plant in Bushehr.

Head of Atomstroyexport Corporation, the Russian contractor building the plant, had earlier predicted that the Bushehr plant would not be commissioned before late 2008.

According to Iran, the reactor will begin operation in late October.

During a visit to Tehran in April, acting secretary of Russia's Security Council, Valentin Sobolev, promised the plant to be launched according to schedule.

Russia has so far delivered eight consignments of nuclear fuel to the plant located in southern Iran being constructed in response to the country's growing energy demand, which has tripled since 1990.