RUSSIA STARTS BUILDING NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN IRAN

FILE IMAGE: Sputnik/ Valeriy Melnikov

Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom announced on October 31 that construction of the Bushehr 2 nuclear power plant in Iran has started, RIA reported.

“I am sure this major Russian-Iranian investment project will strengthen the cooperation and ties between our countries,” said Rosatom’s General Director Alexey Likhachev at the ground breaking ceremony.

Before this, Likhachev and the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi also visited the site of the Russian-built Bushehr 1 NPP which was connected to the national grid in 2011.

The project’s cost is estimated at $10 billion and will take up to ten years to complete. The deal, which was signed by Russia and Iran in November 2014, also included the option of building six more reactors in the future.

Russia has been a long-time proponent of helping Iran develop means of producing its own nuclear energy, as it previously helped Iran’s export of enriched uranium and modification of nuclear facilities at Arak and Fordo, following the 2015 nuclear accord. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin also said in early October that he will continue to support the Iran nuclear deal, despite suggestions that Donald Trump’s White House may withdraw its support.

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