Russia’s Atomic Energy Ministry (Minatom) has provided Iran with a feasibility study for the construction of a second VVER-1000 light-water reactor. Deputy atomic energy minister Yevgeny Reshetnikov said Iran will independently decide on the location of the construction site for the new unit. However, the existing site at Bushehr seems the most likely.
Meanwhile, Russian specialists are continuing work on unit 1 at Bushehr, which is expected to begin operating in December 2003. One shipload of equipment has already been delivered and a second shipment later this month will include the reactor and other energy equipment, worth a total of $50 million.
