Sputnik - Russia launched production of equipment necessary for the construction of new reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, President of JSC NIAEP-holding Company of JSC Atomstroyexport (JSC ASE), the project's general contractor, Valery Limarenko told Sputnik on Monday.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)�� The company's president added that a number of�deals related to�long-lead equipment were expected to�be signed in�the near�future.


"The contracts for�the production of�a melt localization device, the so-called core catcher, for�the second and third NPP reactors have already been signed. Moreover, the manufacturer has already started to�produce this complex equipment," Limarenko said at�the IXth International Forum ATOMEXPO 2017, adding that contracts on�deliveries of�equipment for�machinery rooms were also signed.

According to�Limarenko, the issue of�purchasing the NPP steam generators and the automation systems of�technological process control was also on�the agenda.
"This is a difficult and detailed work, which involves a large number of�Atomstroyexport specialists, the main purpose of�which is to�supply the equipment in�time. Such approach will allow reducing the period of�construction, as�the equipment will be delivered directly to�the installation area," Limarenko said.


The Bushehr-2 construction deal, which had initiated the construction and installation of�the second and the third reactors at�the southern Iran site, was signed by�Russia and Iran in�November 2014. The deal also included the option of�building six more reactors in�the future.

In December 2016, Tehran transferred to�Russia the first tranche to�finance the building of�the second stage of�the Bushehr NPP. According to�Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, construction and installation works under�Bushehr-2 project began on�March 14, 2017.