OREANDA-NEWS. April 16, 2009. A delegation of the Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran (AEOI) visited Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant (branch of Energoatom Concern OJSC) and the construction site of Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant-2 on Apr 1 2009. After a tour of the operating plant and the construction site the head of the delegation, Deputy Head of AEOI Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh kindly agreed to give a short interview.

— What was the objective of your visit?

— As you may know, the Islamic Republic of Iran is developing nuclear energy. That’s exactly why we decided to visit Russian Kalinin and Leningrad NPPs. The visits have proved to be very useful.

I would like to thank Mr. Valery Lebedev (Deputy Director of Energoatom Concern and Director of Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant) for warm and friendly reception. We are also grateful to Mr. Oleg Lebedev (Head of the Directorate for the Construction of Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant-2) for his hospitality.

— Russian Atomstroyexport has completed the construction of and is carrying out start-up operations at Bushehr NPP, Iran’s first nuclear power plant. What are you planning to do next?

— After the commissioning of our first nuclear reactor we expect our parliament to adopt a decision to build new reactors with a total capacity of 19,000MW.

Naturally, in developing our nuclear industry we actively use international experience. Particularly, we have good partner relations with Russia and hope for active cooperation under new construction projects in Iran.

— They in Russia and Europe care much for public opinion in developing nuclear energy. Do your nuclear energy plans depend on public opinion, if yes, to what an extent?

— Our plans to build new nuclear power plants are based on the strong will of our people. This will has several motives.

First of all, our people believe that oil and gas must not be the only sources of electricity. In order to ensure energy stability in our country, we must use different types of fuel.

Second, we care for our ecology, and nuclear power plants have almost no impact on the environment.

Besides, our people, just like people in other states, prefer modern and ecologically friendly technologies.

Presently, Iran is actively developing fundamental science and its applied components: rocket production, bio-technologies, medicine, space studies. Our citizens welcome these projects as they know that they will make their lives better and will ensure the independence of our state.

— How are you going to secure personnel for such big development plans?

— We have a strategy of development of nuclear energy for the next 20 years envisaging mechanisms of training of necessary number of specialists. Relevant instructions have already been sent to the Ministry of Education. Our universities are also drafting special programs. Some of them are establishing special energy departments. They have already admitted and are training future nuclear power engineers. Some, organizations have begun to retrain their personnel.

We are also planning to develop our own capacities in the field of production of equipment for nuclear power plants and to produce some systems on our own.

That is, we in Iran have a comprehensive complex program for developing our nuclear power industry.

— Are you going to use your own specialists in developing your nuclear sector?

— Yes, we are going to use Iranian specialists but we will also involve international experts and very much rely on their experience. For example, our universities will invite foreign professors from Europe and other countries. We are planning to send our students for training in Russia and other states.

We are also planning to use the experience of Russia and other states having advanced nuclear technologies. We may well invite the best foreign specialists but will mostly stake on our own human and industrial resources.