Iran soon to accept bids for two more nuclear power plants

15:04 | 15/ 04/ 2007

TEHRAN, April 15 (RIA Novosti) – Iran will soon announce a tender for
the construction of two more nuclear power plants in the south of the
Islamic Republic, an official of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said
Sunday.

Ahmad Fayazbakhsh said the power plants will each have a capacity of
1,000 to 1,600 megawatts and will be built at Bushehr where Russia is
completing the construction of Iran’s first nuclear power plant.

Iran has been at the center of international concerns since January
2006 over its nuclear program, which some countries, particularly the
United States, suspect is geared toward nuclear weapons development.
Tehran has consistently denied the claims, saying it needs nuclear
power for civilian purposes.

Fayazbakhsh said some major European and Asian contractors have already
displayed interest in the construction of NPPs.

Fayazbakhsh also said the two nuclear power plants will cost about
$1.4-1.8 billion and their construction will last about 9-11 years.