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China to modernize Iran ’s Arak nuclear reactor, make new plants

Nuclear Program Materials 27 August 2015 14:03 (UTC +04:00)
Iran and China have agreed to cooperate on modernizing Arak nuclear reactor.
China to modernize Iran ’s Arak nuclear reactor, make new plants

Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27

By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran and China have agreed to cooperate on modernizing Arak nuclear reactor.

During a meeting between Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and Qian Zhimin, president of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in Beijing on Aug. 27 the sides also agreed to increase cooperation for construction of nuclear power plants, the Iranian official IRNA news agency reported.

" Iran is willing to boost mutual nuclear cooperation and implementing joint projects with China, considering Beijing's technical-engineering capabilities as well as financing new nuclear projects in the Islamic Republic and using third generation technology in this field," Salehi underlined.

Tehran and Beijing agreed on a two-step process of cooperation. Based on that, power plants with a capacity of 8-megawatts will be constructed in the mid-term. Long-term, capacity is planned to increase to 20,000 MW in the second phase of the cooperation.

The Chinese part also expressed readiness to supply Iran with modern technology to redesign Arak heavy water nuclear reactor for producing radiopharmaceuticals as well as other industrial nuclear products.

The reactor's redesign is necessary based on the nuclear deal which was signed between Tehran and the P5+1 (US, Russia, China, France, UK, and Germany) last month. The deal once implemented is expected to curb Iran 's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of most international sanctions.

On the second day of his official trip to China Salehi also visited two nuclear facilities that were designed by the CNNC.

Salehi arrived in Beijing Aug. 26 morning to hold talks with Chinese officials on redesigning Arak heavy water reactor as well as the construction of several new power plants in Iran.

He met with China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Chairman Xu Dazhe on the first segment of his trip. During the meeting, the two officials highlighted the development of cooperation between Iran and China in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.

They also called for expansion of Tehran-Beijing relations in all areas, particularly in the construction of small power plants.

Edited by CN

Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh

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