The head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, has reiterated plans to increase the number of NPPs in order to achieve a total capacity of 20,000 MWe. During a visit of the Bushehr NPP in southern Iran, he said the project "seeks to align Iran with global standards in nuclear power production”.
Bushehr NPP hosts one operating Russian-designed VVER-1000 unit, with two more units under construction. Bushehr unit 1, built by Rosatom, began in 2011 and reached full capacity the following year. Eslami noted that in the Iranian calendar year 1402, which ended on 20 March, electricity production from the Bushehr marked its tenth year. He said 63 TWh of nuclear electricity had been produced by the plant to date.
He added that nuclear generation had saved Iran 103m barrels of crude oil, which is worth more than $8bn in fossil fuel consumption. “Bushehr nuclear power plant has been able to cover fourfold the cost of its construction,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran's Oil Ministry and AEOI have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing cooperation across various domains, notably in technology. The agreement specified collaboration encompassing a wide array of objectives, including advancing the general policies of the Islamic establishment, promoting the principles of the resistance economy, addressing mutual needs, and augmenting the technological capabilities of the nation.
The comprehensive 10-article memorandum encompasses key areas of collaboration, such as joint research endeavours and the implementation of innovative nuclear technologies, particularly the application of radiation in sectors crucial to Iran's economy, such as oil, gas, refining, and petrochemicals. Furthermore, the MOU underscores the facilitation of service provision and product delivery to support the growth and development of these sectors.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mohammad Ghannadi Maraghe, the Deputy for Strategic Planning & Supervision at AEOI and Vahidreza Zeidifar, the Deputy Minister of Petroleum for Engineering & Research. In addition to the MOU, the two parties agreed to establish a strategic committee comprising representatives from both sides. This committee will be tasked with expediting the implementation of the MOU's provisions and undertaking necessary measures to ensure its effective enforcement.
Image: Mohammad Eslami, Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI)
