Bushehr Nuclear Plant Output to Increase

Two percent of Iran's total electricity output comes from the sole nuclear power plant in the south, but output is expected to rise, says the head of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

"Bushehr plant produced 6.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the previous fiscal year (ended March 20). That was 2% of total power output," Hossein Ghaffari was cited as saying by Tasnim News Agency on Monday.

He made the remark on the occasion of the National Nuclear Technology Day on April 9.

"Plans are in place to raise the Bushehr power plant's output to 7 billion kWh in the present fiscal. The plant has produced more than 20 billion kWh of electricity since its launch in 2011," said the official.

Iran is developing two more nuclear reactors in Bushehr in collaboration with Russia. The new nuclear projects will cost upwards of $10 billion. Operations are to start in 2024. With a combined power production capacity of 1,057 megawatts, the new plants will boost total nuclear power output to 2,100 MW.

Thermal power plants are the pillar of Iran's energy mix, comprising more than 80% of its installed capacity that is approximately 75,000 megawatts.

Tehran says nuclear power, as a clean and sustainable source of energy, will stabilize electricity supply, cut fossil fuel consumption and help protect the environment.  However, some analysts and experts have questioned the financial viability of nuclear power, and assert that Iran would be better off by diverting investment toward renewable energies and gradually move away from fossil fuels and costly nuclear reactors.