Iranian Entity: Bushehr
| Entity Name: |
| Bushehr |
| Also Known As: |
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) |
| Program: |
| Nuclear |
| Text: |
Location of the Bushehr-1 and Bushehr-2 nuclear power reactors, which are owned and operated by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI); initial reactor construction began in 1975 by Kraftwerk Union of Germany (a Siemens subsidiary); construction stopped following the 1979 Iranian Revolution; the reactors were badly damaged by bombing during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war; in 1995, Iran contracted with the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation (MINATOM), now known as the Federal Agency on Atomic Energy (ROSATOM), for the completion of Bushehr-1, initially for some $800 million; in September 2003, the cost to complete Bushehr-1 was re-estimated to be between $1.2 and $1.3 billion; Bushehr-1, a 1,000 MWe VVER light-water reactor, is expected to provide 1,000 MWe to the national electrical grid. Russia is responsible for providing all supplies and services necessary to complete and operate the reactor on a turnkey basis; Russia and Iran agreed in February 2005 that Russia will supply Bushehr-1 with fresh nuclear fuel and collect the spent nuclear fuel, reportedly for ten years; reportedly, Russia will supply up to 80 metric tons of nuclear fuel for Bushehr-1, which, after use, will be stored near the plant until cooled, and then shipped back to Russia. By December 20, 2005, a total of 700 Iranian experts had reportedly completed training at the Novovoronezh training center, run by the "Russian state concern for generation of electrical and thermal power at nuclear power plants" (ROSENERGOATOM), which is overseen by ROSATOM; Bushehr-1 will be run by teams comprised of both Russians and Iranians. A number of Russian companies have reportedly assisted Iran with Bushehr: Elektrosila agreed to supply two turbo generators; Prometey Central Scientific Research Institute of Structural Materials provided metals research support for production of basic equipment; Izhora Plant Joint-Stock Company supplied the reactor vessel, steam generator casing and primary circuit equipment; Joint Stock Company Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod contracted to supply 1,000-megawatt turbines; Selenergoproekt Joint Stock Company designed the safety system; Joint Stock Company Atommash provided footings, four tanks for the automatic cooling of the reactor, and a mechanism for reloading nuclear fuel; other Russian companies reportedly involved with Bushehr include: Atomstroyexport and Atomenergoproekt State Planning, Design, Research and Survey Institute. |
| Images: |
| Image 1: Russia has contracted to complete German-built nuclear reactors at Bushehr Image 2: Bushehr Reactor, Iran. This one-meter resolution image was collected March 1, 2001. Credit: Space Imaging Image 3: Bushehr Reactor, Iran. This one-meter resolution, satellite image was collected by Space Imaging's IKONOS satellite at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2002. The image shows the Iranian Nuclear facility located approximately 17 kilometers south of the city of Bushehr. The reactor complex occupies a 2.5 Square Kilometer site area, which includes assembly halls, a concrete channel for cooling water that runs from the reactors to the Gulf, and the harbor which supports loading and unloading of foreign materials needed for construction and reactor operation. There are two reactor buildings at Bushehr, one is in an advanced stage of completion while the other has remained dormant for some time. IKONOS travels 423 miles above the Earth?s surface at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour. The 1600-pound satellite was launched in Sept. 1999 and is owned and operated by Space Imaging in Denver, Colo. Credit: Space Imaging |
| Date Entered: |
| 9/8/2004 |
| Date Last Modified: |
| 12/20/2007 |