Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation, known as Rosatom, may start the construction of the second and third power units of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran before the yearend, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.
“You know that the contract for the construction of the second and third power units of the Bushehr NPP has already been signed. Now, the two sides carry out preparations for coordinating certain points. Our Iranian counterparts have confirmed that they are interested in the participation of Rosatom in the implementation of this project,” he said on the sidelines of trilateral talks with Iranian and Azerbaijani officials in Baku, TASS reported.
“Russia is ready to continue the construction of the second and third units. I think that we will be ready to start building those power units in the near future,” Novak said, adding that the construction of the two power units may start before the end of 2016.
The nuclear plant in Bushehr was built by Russian specialists following the contract signed by the two countries in 1995. In August 2012, the plant was fully commissioned.
In November 2014, Tehran and Moscow signed a set of agreements on construction of eight more nuclear power units in Iran.
In May, Rosatom said Russia is ready to start designing Bushehr-2 nuclear plant before the end of 2016 when the two sides decide on the plant’s site.
Construction of the third power unit may be launched within the next two years. Overall investments in the project are estimated at $11 billion.
