Iran in talks with Russia over building 3,000 MW nuclear power plant: minister

Iran is holding talks with Russia over the construction of a new nuclear power plant with a capacity to produce 3,000 MW of electricity, an Iranian minister said Saturday.

Once the power plant comes on stream, Iran's capacity to produce nuclear electricity will rise from 1,000 MW to 4,000 MW, Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying.

The minister, however, did not reveal the details of the construction, including the location, finance and timing.

In September 2016, Iran and Russia launched the construction of the second unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

The second unit is expected to take eight years to complete in 2024, while the third unit of the Bushehr plant is scheduled to begin construction in 2026, the report said.

A total of 10 billion U.S. dollars has been allocated for the construction of the two extended units of the Bushehr plant.