Russia ready to up-scale Iran's Nuclear Power production

Bushehr Power Plant ProtoType

Construction of two new nuclear power plants in the Iranian city of Bushehr is now a likely prospect after recent talks between Russian Atomic Energy Giant Rosatom and Irans Atomic Energy Organization. According to Russian Media, the deputy heads of both organizations met and discussed the plan to triple Iran's nuclear power production by signing a contract for the construction of Bushehr's second and third power plants.

Progress towards scaling up Iran's nuclear programme has been slow since the construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant started in 1975. After many operational set-backs, mainly due to the instability that followed the '79 Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq war during the mid '80s, the Power plant was finally operational in 2011. The future seems much brighter for the country's energy infrastructure, which is currently around 90% dependant on domestically produced oil and gas for its electricity. Rosatom's communication department projects that "as many as 9 million homes will be supplied with electricity by the expanded nuclear facilities, meeting around a third of the countries power needs".

The new reactors will produce 1,000 megawatts each, tripling Iran's nuclear power production capacity. Operating the reactors is currently a joint venture between Moscow and Tehran because of Iran's lack of experience in maintaining such installations, but the aim is to give Iran complete operational control after a few years, when the country is ready.