Iran has poured concrete for a part of the second nuclear reactor near its southern port of Bushehr.
Overseeing the process on Sunday night, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said that the government’s support had accelerated the construction of the two reactors under deals worth €1.8 billion.
“The construction works in the two Bushehr nuclear reactors have increased ten-fold compared to the previous years. Those involved in the project have been working round the clock in three shifts,” he added.
Eslmai also expressed hope that the concrete pouring operation will begin at the third nuclear reactor soon.
“We hope that the second unit will be completed and inaugurated in less than 5 years and the third unit 1.5 years after that,” he added.
Iran’s 1,000-megawatt Bushehr was built by Russia after years of delay and officially handed over in September 2013.
Iran’s nuclear chief said that the facility produced a total of 60 billion kilowatt hours (kw/h) of electricity, including 7 billion kw/h last year.
Masoud Nasouri, the engineer in charge of the project for the construction of the second and third Bushehr reactors, said that both units will save the country 10 million barrels of oil and $1,600 billion cubic meters of gas per year and prevent the emission of 7 million tons of toxic gasses.
Over the past years, Iran has recorded many achievements in its peaceful nuclear energy program in defiance of US sanctions as well as hurdles created by the West.
The country has also been closely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
