Country said to have signed agreements with Russia for eight more reactors
The third tier of the inner containment building has been installed for the second unit at the Bushehr nuclear power station in the southwest of the country on the Persian Gulf, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) has said.
The installation of the 12 sections which make up the tier was completed within four weeks “by domestic experts and despite adverse weather conditions”, the AEOI said in a statement.
Work is now taking place to connect and weld the sections. The installation of the new tier means the height of the structure has increased by 14 metres to 40 metres.
According to International Atomic Energy (IAEA) data, construction of Bushehr-2, a 974-MW pressurised water reactor (PWR) unit supplied by Russia, began in September 2019. Bushehr-1, a 995-MW PWR also supplied by Russia, began commercial operation in September 2013. Construction of that unit had begun in May 1975.
In November Iranian media reported that Iran and Russia had finalised an agreement to jointly build eight nuclear power plants in the Middle Eastern country.
Iran’s energy mix is heavily dominated by fossil fuels, with natural gas and oil accounting for most of its energy supply. In 2023, natural gas made up over 79% of electricity generation, with oil providing roughly 15%. Hydropower is the largest source of low-carbon electricity, but its contribution to the overall mix remains small.
In 2024, Bushehr-1 provided about 1.7% of the country’s electricity share, according to IAEA data.
