Iran, Russia sign memo on building small nuclear power plants
Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Wednesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to cooperate on the construction of small nuclear power plants in the country.
The agreement was concluded in Moscow following talks between Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, IRNA reported.
Rosatom said the memorandum outlines specific steps for implementing the strategic project in Iran.
During their meeting, Eslami and Likhachev also reviewed progress on existing projects and discussed prospects for further cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The talks took place “in an atmosphere of mutual trust,” which Rosatom said characterizes its partnership with the AEOI.
Eslami, who is also Iran's vice president, arrived in Moscow on Monday to attend Russia’s Nuclear Week events and hold meetings with Russian officials. He told IRNA in Moscow that an intergovernmental agreement already provides for the construction of eight nuclear power plants in Iran by Russia, including four at Bushehr. He said Iran had completed the necessary studies and site preparations for the next phase.
“Negotiations and required studies for implementing the second part of this contract have been completed, and the land for the new power plants has been selected, prepared and equipped,” he said.
He added that site visits and contractual negotiations had already been carried out and that the newly signed agreement would move the project into the operational phase, covering design, engineering and other preparatory work.