Baku: Iran is poised to establish an Atomic Energy Council aimed at promoting the peaceful use of its nuclear technology. The council, which is still in the planning stages, is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of Iran’s nuclear industry.
According to Trend News Agency, the idea for the Atomic Energy Council emerged from a draft analyzed last week during a plenary session of the Iranian parliament. The project, developed with insights from the parliament’s research center, proposes the creation of a 17-member council led by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The draft outlines a comprehensive plan to advance Iran’s nuclear capabilities over the next twenty years, including the construction and operation of nuclear power plants with a minimum capacity of 7,000 megawatts. These facilities, to be developed in cooperation with the private sector and managed through the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, are expected to contribute significantly to the nation’s energy needs.
Moreover, the prop
osal mandates extensive research and development in new reactor production, aiming for these reactors to be operational within the next two decades. It also emphasizes Iran’s goal to achieve self-sufficiency in producing various isotopes and radioisotopes used in healthcare and agriculture.
Financially, the initiative calls for substantial investment from both the National Development Fund and the Iranian government. The National Development Fund is expected to allocate at least $1 billion annually for twenty years to support nuclear power plant development. Additionally, the Atomic Energy Organization is to receive $1 billion from the National Oil Company’s crude oil and gas condensate exports to further nuclear development.
Upon adoption by the Iranian Parliament, the Constitutional Review Board must approve the project. This development comes amidst Iran’s ongoing efforts to navigate sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, which have significantly impacted its economy and restricted its global
oil trade.