Russia and Iran have signed a set of documents on enhancement of cooperation in peaceful use of atomic energy. Sergei Kirienko, Head of ROSATOM, Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation and Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice- President of Iran and Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation signed the document on November11, 2014 at ROSATOM’s Headquarters in Moscow.
According to the documents both the countries agreed to cooperate in construction of additional four power units with VVER reactors on the turn-key basis at the Bushehr NPP site, as well as four similar power units at another site in Iran. The parties also agreed to ensure the maximum possible participation of Iranian enterprises and organizations in all works related to construction of new power units, their operation and decommissioning.As part of the agreement, Head of NIAEP-ASE, sister concern of ROSATOM and Head of the Nuclear Power Production and Development Company of Iran (NPPD) signed a contract for construction of two new power units of Bushehr Phase II.
The entire construction project of the nuclear power units in Iran, including equipment and nuclear fuel supplies, will be under the IAEA safeguards and fully meet the nuclear nonproliferation regime, as was during construction of the first power unit of Bushehr NPP.
Under the Protocol, nuclear fuel for the NPPs will be fabricated by the Russian party throughout the entire lifecycle of eight new power units. Spent nuclear fuel will be returned to Russia for reprocessing and storage.
Russia will arrange training of the Iranian specialists in operation, servicing and corresponding engineering support of NPPs as well as in regulation of nuclear and radiation safety.
Russia and Iran will cooperate in the field of the nuclear fuel cycle and ecology. Feasibility of fabricating fuel rod components in Iran, which will be used at these power units will also be studied by the sides. – Triune press release
