Russian company says ready to build second nuclear power plant in Iran

Russia's state-owned nuclear technology export company said Monday it is ready to build a second nuclear power plant in Iran after the Iranian government decided to go ahead with the project.

Russia is helping Iran build the country's nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which is expected to come on stream in 2006. Iran said earlier in the day it plans to construct a second plant in its southeastern region of Khuzestan.

"The company has all opportunities for this," Vladimir Pavlov, company director of Atomstroiexport, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying while commenting on the Iranian project.

"Russian experts have practically completed the construction of the first 1,000-megawatt reactor in Bushehr that should be connected to Iran's power grid by late 2006," Pavlov said.

Earlier reports said Atomstroiexport has submitted to Iran a feasibility study to build the second Bushehr reactor.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. Iran, however, says its nuclear program is dedicated exclusively to power generation.

Germany, France and Britain, which have represented the European Union (EU), had been trying to persuade Tehran to scrap uranium enrichment, but the talks collapsed after Iran ended a freeze on uranium conversion in August.

Iran has insisted on a full nuclear fuel cycle.

Moscow has proposed a plan that would allow Iran a civilian nuclear program but transfer uranium enrichment, the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle, to Russia. The proposal has been backed by the EU and the United States.

Source: Xinhua