Iran Proposes Joint Nuclear Consortium

Iran plans to move ahead with light water reactors; officials there hope other Arab countries join them.

Iran's Reza Aghazadeh Courtesy: gdb.rferl.org

(TEHRAN / Press TV) - Iran has proposed that a joint consortium to construct and develop light water reactor plants be established by Persian Gulf states.

The Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Reza Aghazadeh, made the proposal Sunday at Tehran's first international exhibition on nuclear power plants, 'the environment and sustainable development'.

"Iran is ready to present a comprehensive offer over the issue of a possible consensus between countries in the Persian Gulf," Aghazadeh said.

According to the Iranian official, there are now 439 nuclear power plants in the world, including 104 in the US, 59 in France, 55 in Japan and 31 in Russia.

"Hence, it becomes quite evident that the advanced countries of the world have the highest number of nuclear power plants."

The Iranian official added that there are a number of nuclear power stations under construction, including eight in Russia, six in China, six in India, six in South Korea, two in Japan, one in France, one in the US and one in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Iran is determined to construct modern nuclear power plants. Iran is planning to continue its peaceful use of nuclear technology due to the considerable influence of nuclear sciences and technology on scientific, economic and social aspects of life, particularly sustainable development," said Aqazadeh.

A light water reactor or LWR is a thermal nuclear reactor that uses ordinary water, also called light water, as its neutron moderator.

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