Iran, Russia Ink Deal on Building 8 New Nuclear Power Units
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Tehran and Moscow on Tuesday signed an agreement, guaranteed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the construction of eight nuclear power units in Iran.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi, who is on a trip to Moscow, and Rosatom CEO Sergei Kirienko inked the documents, promoting the links in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy between the two countries.
According to the agreement, Russia is to construct eight pressurized water reactors “turn-key ready” in Iran. Four of them will be built at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, also completed by Russia a year ago, RT reported.
Besides, nuclear fuel for the future reactors will be provided by Russia during the whole life cycle of the new reactors. Spent fuel will be returned for processing and storage.
“It is the turning point in the relations between our countries,” Salehi said. “These friendly actions, taken by Russia will be well-remembered.” He added that now Russia and Iran “have become even closer to each other.”
The new document has been a protocol to the intergovernmental partnership agreement, signed on August 25, 1992. It marked the decision to continue building a nuclear power plant 18km from Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr.
The project will be guaranteed by the IAEA as the first unit of the Bushehr has been. It also will fully comply with the non-proliferation regime.
Upon his arrival in Moscow on Tuesday, Salehi said that Iran needs to build more nuclear plants to meet the growing demands for electricity in the country.
“The production of 20,000 megawatts of electricity is among the duties placed on the administration by the Iranian parliament,” he said.
The Iranian nuclear official also announced that in his Tuesday meeting with Kirienko, the two sides would also exchange views on mechanisms for nuclear fuel swap.
