ISFAHAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) – AEOI head Salehi said on Monday the second nuclear power plant will start construction in Bushehr after necessary studies have been carried out.

Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the main entrance to Isfahan nuclear site on Monday told reporters that within the past year, Iran has signed two agreements with Russia on the construction of two nuclear power plants in the country.

He maintained that the nuclear power plant in Bushehr is currently being designed, adding “since eight months ago the construction of residential houses for the personnel that will be employed in the future has been started.”

“Since construction of power plants first needs studies to be conducted on geology, seismology and other security issues, we predict that the second nuclear power plant in the country will start construction by the end of the Iranian Year (mid-March),” he said.

Salehi added that under the agreement with Russia, the country’s third nuclear power plant will begin construction within the next two years.

The AEOI  head further added that in a time period of 10 to 15 years, the country is expected to add an additional 3000MW to the current 1000MW power grid.

Head of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Sergei Kirienko said on Friday that preparation work for the construction of a second unit at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant has begun.

The new units at Bushehr's nuclear site will have two reactors, which will produce 1,000 megawatts each, tripling Iran's nuclear power production capacity.