Russia Begins Producing Equipment for Iran's Bushehr Power Plant
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russia has launched production of equipment necessary for the construction of new reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, the president of JSC NIAEP-holding Company of JSC Atomstroyexport (JSC ASE), the project's general contractor, said.
Valery Limarenko said that a number of deals related to long-lead equipment were expected to be signed in the near future.
"The contracts for the production of a melt localization device, the so-called core catcher, for the second and third NPP reactors have already been signed. Moreover, the manufacturer has already started to produce this complex equipment," Limarenko told Sputnik.
According to Limarenko, the issue of purchasing the NPP steam generators and the automation systems of technological process control was also on the agenda.
"This is a difficult and detailed work, which involves a large number of Atomstroyexport specialists, the main purpose of which is to supply the equipment in time. Such approach will allow reducing the period of construction, as the equipment will be delivered directly to the installation area," he added.
The Bushehr-2 construction deal was signed by Iran and Russia in November 2014. The deal also included the option of building six more reactors in the future.
In December 2016, Tehran transferred to Russia the first tranche to finance the building of the second stage of the Bushehr NPP. According to Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, construction and installation works under Bushehr-2 project began on March 14, 2017.