Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran To Build Two Additional Bushehr Nuclear Power Plants

A general view of Bushehr nuclear power plant taken from outside its premises at the Iranian port city of Bushehr, 1200 Kms south of Tehran, 03 April 2007. Iran on Sunday announced it is launching a tender for offers to build two new nuclear power stations in the southern city of Bushehr, a top nuclear agency official said.

AP: Iran to build 2 nuclear power plants

Iran said Sunday it is seeking bids for the building of two more nuclear power plants, despite international pressures to curb its controversial program.

Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh, the deputy head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization in charge of power plants, said 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 $1.7 billion and take up to 11 years to construct, he told reporters during a news conference at his office.

The country has been locked in a bitter funding dispute with Russia, which is building Iran’s first nuclear power plant near the southern city of Bushehr.

Russia delayed the launch of the plant, which had been set for September, 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 $1 billion contract, and accused Russia of caving in to Western pressure.

Iran is already building a 40-megawatt heavy water reactor in Arak, central Iran, based on domestic technology. It is also preparing to build a 360-megawatt nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, in southwestern Iran.

Fayyazbakhsh said the two new plants would be built near Bushehr. He also said he planned to travel to Russia next week to try to ease tensions and get the first Bushehr plant back on track.

Another ploy by the Mullahs to cover their tracks for diverting enriched uranium to their nuclear weapons program. Why announce this now?

Hell, they haven’t paid the Russians for the first Bushehr reactor.

This is nothing but more Western media play by the Iranians. These guys really know how to work the MSM.

And what about United Nations sanctions?

You know, these:

UNSC Resolution 1696 (2006)

UNSC Resolution 1737 (2006)

UNSC Resolution 1747 (2007)

An Iranian flag is seen outside the building housing the reactor of the Bushehr nuclear power plant at the Iranian port town of Bushehr, 03 April 2007.

Stay tuned…….