Russia will come around to negotiations on new Bushehr power units after release of the first one

“We are open for the discussion of continuation of the cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy with Iran; it is well known,” Interfax was told in ROSATOM in their comment of the statement made by the head of the Iranian MFA concerning drafting a memorandum of understanding regarding construction of new NPP power units between the countries.

“As regards the construction of new power units of Bushehr NPP, this topic was preliminary discussed, but the actual negotiations can start after the first power unit is released to the Iranian customer,” ROSATOM said.

“At the same time, to make any decisions on the cooperation continuation two conditions have to be met, i.e. such cooperation should be economically beneficial and conform to Russia’s international obligations,” the state-run corporation emphasized.

Earlier, the Iranian mass media, referring to Minister of International Affairs of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi, said Iran and Russia plan shortly to sign a memorandum of understanding that provides for construction of a new NPP.

The reports said that late June Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told journalists that Iran planned to build three more power units at Bushehr NPP and hoped for the broadening of the cooperation with ROSATOM.

Three more 1,000-megawatt units can be built at Bushehr. Today, our plans are to build two more units at this plant and after that we will talk on possible construction of the fourth unit,” he said.

Besides, F. Abbasi-Davani said Iran also sought for places to build new NPPs. “In near future we will pass the information on geography of the potential sites of our future NPPs to the IAEA,” he said.

Iran has plans of building 20,000 MW of nuclear capacities. By date, the Russian principal contractor has built the country’s only Bushehr NPP of 1,000 MW capacity.

The 1,000-megawatt Bushehr NPP is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf. The plant construction was started by the German specialists in the 1970s and then frozen. In the 1990s the Russian Atomstroyexport was engaged in the construction. Late June Bushehr NPP was brought to 100% power.