Iran’s Only N-Plant Back Online after Refueling

Iran’s only nuclear power plant is back on line after an annual upgrade and maintenance program and amid the country’s efforts to increase electricity generation ahead of the hot summer months.

The head of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), located in southwest Iran on the Persian Gulf coast, said on Tuesday that the plant had been reconnected to the national electrical grid after refueling, component replacements, and system improvements.

Reza Banazadeh said that the plant would work at its full capacity of more than 1 gigawatt (GW), increasing electricity supplies available to customers in southern Iran.

BNPP normally carries out upgrades and maintenance in the spring to ensure safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

The plant produced nearly 7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in the calendar year to late March, playing a major role in Iran’s efforts to respond to record power demands in the country’s household and manufacturing sectors.

It has generated more than 72 billion kWh of power since it was launched more than 11 years ago.

The success of the nuclear project in Bushehr has prompted the Iranian government to announce plans for the construction of new nuclear facilities for electricity generation, including additional units in the BNPP.

Experts say that plans for new nuclear power plants justify Iran’s efforts to protect a home-grown uranium enrichment program that guarantees unimpeded access to fuel supplies for those plants.

However, uranium enrichment has become a stumbling block for a potential nuclear deal between Iran and the United States after five rounds of indirect talks held between the two since early April.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly stated that the country would never forgo its right to uranium enrichment. - Press TV