MOSCOW. July 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia intends to build several nuclear power plants in Iran by 2012.
This information is included in a government-approved draft of a long-term development program for trade, economic, industrial and scientific cooperation between Russia and Iraq from until 2012, the government information department reported.
In particular, cooperation between Russian and Iranian organizations envisions the construction of a new nuclear power plant with two 1,000 mWt power units at the Bushehr site and another plant with two 1,000 mWt power units at the Akhvaz site.
Russia and Iran signed a USD800m contract for the construction of the first power unit in Bushehr in 1995. The reactor should be delivered at the end of 2002, and may be commissioned at the end of 2003, or the beginning of 2004.
The draft also provides for working out a long-term program of cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the information department report states.
In power engineering, the sides will cooperate on projects in the Iranian 10-year development program: the construction of the Tabas power plant (two 315 mWt units), with the possibility of expansion (two more similar units), and the development of the Mazino-1 coal mine.
In addition, the draft implies cooperation in expanding the Ramin thermal plant (two 315 mWt units) and the Shahid Mohammad Montazeri thermal plant (two 200 mWt units).
The draft guidelines for cooperation in power engineering also imply joint efforts in the utilization of unconventional sources of energy (wind and sun) and the building of small hydro power stations.
A consortium should also be set up to manufacture equipment for power stations and to build power stations in Iran and third countries.
Earlier reports said Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov signed a resolution approving a draft for a long-term program to advance trade, economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and Iran.
The document bound the Economic Development Ministry together with other interested federal agencies to hold talks with Iran.
The same resolution instructed the Russian co-chairman of the mixed commission for trade and economic relations to sign on behalf of the Russian government the long-term program and allowed him to make minor changes and additions to the draft document.