Iran is negotiating with the Russian Federation on the construction of another nuclear power plant, Iranian media reported on 25 August. The Ministry of Energy has said that Iran plans to increase the share of nuclear generation and has begun negotiations with Moscow on the possible conclusion of a contract for the construction of 3000MWe of nuclear plant.
Ministry official Reza Ardakanian said this would bring Iran’s nuclear power capacity to 4000MWe.
Unit 1 at the Bushehr NPP, a 1000MWe VVER-1000, constructed with Russian assistance based on a 1995 contract, began operation in 2011. Work began on construction of a second unit in October 2017. Russia is building two additional VVER-1000 reactors with a combined capacity of 2100MWe as part of Bushehr Phase II, under a contract signed in November 2014. The second unit is expected to begin operation in October 2024 followed by the third unit in April 2026. A total of $10 billion has been allocated for the construction of the two units.
The new talks would appear to relate to an additional unit. A high level of Iranian localisation is anticipated for these new units.
Photo: Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran (Credit: Rosatom)