Iran extends cooperation with Russian nuclear regulator

Russian regulator Rostechnadzor has agreed to continue and expand its provision of consulting services to its Iranian counterpart for the operation of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

The Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (INRA) signed a protocol with FSUE VO "Safety" - part of Rostechnadzor - that defines the direction of further inter-agency cooperation, Rostechnadzor said on 4 July. The document was signed following a meeting between Rosatechnadzor chairman Alexey Aleshin and INRA director general Naser Rastkhah.

At their meeting, the two men "shared information on the state of nuclear and radiation safety in both countries, summarised the provisional results of interagency cooperation, and discussed its future prospects," Rostechnadzor said.

Bushehr 1, a VVER-1000 unit, entered commercial operation last September, while a government-level protocol on building two further reactors at that site was signed in April. A construction contract for them is expected to be signed later this year, along with an intergovernmental agreement for eight reactors - six at other sites.

In April, the Russian government gave Rostechnadzor the authority to provide consultancy support and train personnel at fledgling regulatory bodies in countries that are customers of Russia-designed nuclear power plants.

Rostechnadzor said last month it had agreed to draft a new interagency agreement with the National Nuclear Safety Administration of China.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News