Rosatom director general Alexei Likhachev (R) and Iran vice-president Ali Akbar Salehi (L). Credit: The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM.

Russia’s Rosatom has commenced construction on the second unit of Bushehr nuclear power plant (NPP) in Iran.

Signed in 2014, the deal will see the construction of two 2,100MW units near Bushehr-1, which was connected to the grid in 2011.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Foundations for Bushehr-2 were first laid in September last year.

“Bushehr-1 has already generated 25 billion kWh of electricity and this is a serious contribution to the economy of Iran.”

Rosatom’s subsidiary Atomstroy export (ASE) has been engaged as the general contractor for the project.

Rosatom director general Alexei Likhachev said: “To date, Bushehr-1 has already generated 25 billion kWh of electricity and this is a serious contribution to the economy of Iran, which gives an opportunity to channel additional funds to the development of both the social sphere and industry of the country.”

Bushehr-2 is expected to be commissioned in seven years, and Atomproekt expects to begin work on the foundation of the third unit next year.