As the big powers are rushing to Vienna to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, Iran decided to give them some more food for their thought. Iran, which is under immense political pressure, plans to construct two light-water nuclear reactors. The officials have said the Iran is likely to issue an international tender for it sometime next month.



Light-water reactors run on enriched uranium using ordinary water as a coolant. It is pertinent to note that Iran has already roped in Russia to build a light-water reactor in Bushehr, which has the capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity.



However, Europe has already shown some reservation to Iran’s heavy-water reactor in Arak. They are opposing it just due to the reason that heavy-waters reactors based on natural uranium and it produces byproduct in the form of deuterium that can be used to make a hydrogen bomb.



The tender for the ambitious project will be open to domestic and international firms both. The Iranian government has indicated that the tender will be floated within two months from now. However, locations of the prospective reactors have not been disclosed yet.



Russia was quick to react to the proposal saying it is interested to participate in the bid for nuclear work in Iran. Iran has already expressed bluntly that Russia will have obvious advantage over the other countries for the construction of nuclear reactors.



Via Reuters