Baku, Azerbaijan, Sep.1
By Emil Ilgar – Trend:
Iran will start building two nuclear power plants on September 10, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said.
The new power plants are expected to be commenced by 2026, IRNA quoted him as saying Sep.1.
"The construction of new two power plants would be carried out by Russia, for about $10 billion," Salehi said.
He said that the mentioned power plants would save consuming 22 million barrels of crude oil (equivalent) in the power sector.
Currently about 83 percent of Iran's electricity output belongs to thermal power plants, while the share of the only nuclear power plant (Bushehr) in the total electricity generation is 1.35 percent.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour told Trend Aug.9 that Russia will build eight power plants in Iran.
Russia has constructed Iran's first nuclear power plant, Bushehr, with 1,000 megawatts capacity and it is preparing for building new plants in the country.
Iran has plans to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 2,000 megawatts by 2035.