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Iran confirms importance of Rosatom’s participation in Bushehr NPP construction

Construction of reactors 2 and 3 for Iran’s Bushehr NPP to start before yearend, says the Russian foreign minister
Bushehr nuclear power plant EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Bushehr nuclear power plant
© EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

BAKU, August 8. /TASS/. Iran has confirmed the importance of Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom’s participation in the construction of the Bushehr NPP, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters upon results of Monday’s talks with his Iranian and Azerbaijani counterparts.

In his words, construction of the second and third power units may start before the yearend.

"You know that the contract for the construction of the second and third power units of the Bushehr NPP has already been signed. Now, the sides carry out preparations for coordinating certain points. Our Iranian counterparts have confirmed that they are interested in the participation of Rosatom in the implementation of this project," he said.

"Successful experience of the first power unit commissioning evidenced that Russia’s technologies are at the highest level. Russia is ready to continue constructing the second and the third units. I think that we will be ready to start building those power units in the near future," Novak said, adding that the construction of the two above-mentioned power units may start before the end of 2016.

The NPP in the Iranian Bushehr province was built by Russian specialists in the compliance with the contract signed between the two countries in 1995. In August 2012, the Bushehr NPP was fully commissioned.

At the beginning of November 2014, Russia and Iran signed a set of agreements on the construction of eight more atomic power units in Iran.

At the beginning of this year’s May, Rosatom’s official said that Russia is ready to start designing the Bushehr NPP-2 in Iran before the end of 2016 when the two sides coordinate parameters of the future NPP site.

Construction of the third power unit may be launched within the next two years. Overall investments in the project are estimated at $11 billion.