Against the background of highly strained relations between Iran and the United States and European countries, as well as the delay in the negotiation of Iran's nuclear agreement, Iran announced that it would build a new 300 MW nuclear power plant in Huqistan Province in the southwest of the country from the 3rd, which is expected to be put into operation within 8 years.

This nuclear power plant, called Karun, is located along the Karun River in the southwest of Iran, covering an area of 50 hectares. It will be equipped with a pressurized water reactor (PWR), using 4% enriched uranium as fuel. The project is expected to cost US $2 billion to meet the power demand of surrounding areas.

Mohamed Islami, chairman of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, presided over the commencement ceremony of the nuclear power plant. He said: "The construction of this nuclear power plant will open a new page for the development of Iran's nuclear industry and technology. We hope to promote this industry in China."

At present, Iran has a nuclear power plant near the southern port city of Bushehr, which was put into use in 2011 with the help of Russia. Islami said on October 4, 2022 that Iran has formulated a plan to build a new nuclear power plant, with the goal of increasing the annual power generation capacity of Iran's nuclear power to 10000 MW without relying on international partnership. (Please refer to www.seetao. com for reprint) See the editor of the strategic column of www.seetao. com/Xu Shengpeng