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Iran energy minister: Bushehr nuclear plant saves $2 billion worth of fossil fuels

Business Materials 24 September 2013 12:17 (UTC +04:00)


Azerbaijan, Baku, Sep.24/ Trend R.Zamanov

Bushehr nuclear power plant will play an important role in the country's lectricity production, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian said.

"The power plant annually saves some $2 billion worth of fossil fuels," the IRNA News Agency quoted Chitchian as saying.

He made the remarks at the sidelines of Bushehr nuclear power plant takeover ceremony.

"By boosting Bushehr nuclear power plant, more drinking water can be produced which is gift for a dry country like Iran," Chitchian said.

He went on to note that in 2.5 years the country would save enough money by operating Bushehr nuclear plant to cover the plant's construction costs.

Iran took over the temporary control of its Bushehr nuclear power plant from Russia on Monday.

Under a protocol, the number of Russian contractors is to decrease after the take-over, but they will continue offering services during the two-year guarantee period.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi said on September 22 that the nuclear plant has been in operation for 14 days before being handed over to Iran.

"During the period, the plant worked at 90 percent of its nominal capacity, i.e. 900 megawatts," he added.

He further said that the second unit of the nuclear plant will be constructed in the near future.

Previously, Salehi said that Bushehr nuclear power plant built by Russia is the most exceptional one in the world.

He said that 30-40 percent of the reactor's equipment is European, while 60-70 percent is Russian - a combination that made the reactor the most exceptional in the world.

Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Germany started building Bushehr NPP, but stopped after the revolution.

Iran and Russia signed an agreement in 1995 to repair and complete the 1000 megawatt reactor.

Bushehr NPP was launched in 2011, but it has been shot down several times dues to 'technical problems and the need for more tests'.

Salehi said it is three years since the launch of Bushehr and Russia would likely hand over the plant operation to Iran in three months.

"According to the agreement, a year after delivering the operation of the reactor to Iran, the guarantee time expires. By that time we want to be sure about the quality of the Bushehr reactor because, a year after we get the operational responsibility, Iran should take over payment for any possible damage or problem," he said.

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