Iran plans more nuke plants
2007-04-15 17:53
Tehran - Iran says it is seeking bids to build two more nuclear power plants even as the launch of its first plant is stalled amid a bitter dispute with Russia over its funding.
Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh - the deputy head of Iran's atomic energy organisation in charge of power plants - told reporters on Sunday the plants would be light-water reactors, each with the capacity to generate up to 1 600 megawatts of electricity.
Each plant would cost up to $1.7bn and take up to 11 years to construct, he said.
The announcement comes as Iran is struggling with Russia over the funding of the country's first plant near the southern city of Bushehr.
Russia delayed the launch of the plant - which had been set for September and is already eight years behind schedule - and refused to ship uranium fuel for the reactor last month as earlier planned, citing Iran's payment arrears.
Iranian officials denied any payment delays under the $1bn contract, and accused Russia of caving in to Western pressure.
Due to have opened first in 1999, the Bushehr light-water reactor stands 95% complete, Iranian officials say.
Fayyazbakhsh said the two new plants would be built near Bushehr and he planned to travel to Russia next week to try to ease tensions and get the first Bushehr plant back on track.
The US and some of its allies accuse Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons - a charge Iran denies.
- AP