June 23, 2014 - 17:42 AMT
Russia plans to build new energy blocks for Iran’s Bushehr NPP

Russia plans to sign a contract with Iran on the construction of two new energy blocks for the Bushehr nuclear facility by the end of the year, the CEO of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kirienko said Monday, June 23, according to RIA Novosti.

“Talks are being held and we are near the completion stage. We hope that by the end of this year we will move on to the final signing and additions to the intergovernmental agreement, and then the according contract,” Kirienko told journalists.

The Rosatom CEO elaborated that the two parties were discussing the preparation of additions to the current intergovernmental agreement and a new commercial contract between the entities.

The construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant began in 1974 by the German concern Kraftwerk Union AG (Siemens/KWU), but was cancelled in 1979 when the Islamic revolution broke out in the country.

In August 1992, Iran and Russia signed an agreement on the civil use of nuclear energy and a subsequent contract on construction of a nuclear power plant.