Rosatom sees prospects to expand collaboration with Iran on large, small NPP

MOSCOW. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Rosatom sees prospects to expand its construction projects in Iran, including both large and small nuclear power plants, Vesti news agency reported, citing the state nuclear energy corporation's CEO, Alexei Likhachev.

"We also have great prospects with Iran to expand construction on both large-scale gigawatt units and small plants," the agency quoted Likhachev as saying.

Rosatom already operates the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in the country, with the first unit delivered in 2013. Construction began on the second phase, including power units II and III with combined capacity of 2100 MW, in 2016.

Likhachev a week ago said that the situation at the site was calm. "Overall, it is calm, and there have not been any alarming events related to the plant itself, its perimeter, or our two towns in recent months," he said.

On August 9, Likhachev announced the start of a large-scale operation to return Russian specialists to the Bushehr NPP. "The next group of several dozen employees is planned to be sent in September," he said.

"If all goes well, then we could boost our project staff to 100 by the autumn," Likhachev said.

On Monday, August 31, Likhachev told the Vesti news agency that over 40 employees had already returned to the plant, and a second group of specialists was being prepared for maintenance work.