Iran’s nuclear energy ambitions continue to take shape with projects such as the Iran-Hormoz Nuclear Power Plant which has been at the center of a $25 billion memorandum of understanding with Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom.
The Iran-Hormoz Nuclear Power Plant, a 5GW facility is situated across a 500-hectare coastal site in the Sirik region of southern Hormozgan Province.
Spearheaded by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its project vehicle, the Iran Hormoz Atomic Power Plants Company, the coastal megaproject is the crown jewel of Tehran’s statutory mandate to reach 20 gigawatts (GW) of domestic nuclear capacity by the early 2040s. Its development is also taking shape as Tehran plans new nuclear power plants across five different coastal sites.
Designed to use third-generation reactor technology, the four-unit Iran-Hormoz Nuclear Power Plant has also transitioned into its initial design and heavy equipment procurement phases. The power plant aims to bring its first 1,250 MW unit into active grid synchronization by 2031. This is as construction work on Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 resumes after a recent pause following disruption caused by the Iran-Israel-US war.
Iran-Hormoz Nuclear Power Plant (Sirik NNP) Project Fact Sheet
Location: Kuhstak District in Sirik County, Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran
Total Planned Capacity: 5,000 Megawatts
Configuration: Four generation units at approximately 1,250 MW each
Estimated Investment: $20bn to $25bn (Backed by a bilateral strategic framework signed between Tehran and Moscow)
Current Status: Early site preparation complete; transitioning into formal design, technical engineering, and equipment fabrication phases
Target Completion Date: First unit to start operations by 2031; full site commissioning is scheduled over a nine-year construction timeline
Reactor Type: Advanced Third-Generation (Gen III) Pressurized Water Reactors
Strategic Objectives: Grid stabilization, regional industrial corridor power supply and coastal desalination
Ebrahim Raisi Announces Construction Work Start on the 5,000 MW Iran-Hormoz Nuclear Power Plant
Reported February 8, 2024 – Recently, Iran kicked off construction work on the Iran-Hormoz nuclear power plant, located in Hormozgan southern province. The project is coined as a super project, coming at a cost of 15 billion dollars in investments.
The Iran-Hormoz nuclear power plant project was announced just a few days ago by Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian President, in a video call. The announcement was made during his government’s tour of the southern province.
The launch occasion on the project’s site, in Sirik was attended by the head of the AEOI (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran) as well as other officials.
The new nuclear power plant project was described by Raisi as a significant undertaking. He said that the project forms a foundation of economic as well as general national development. He was optimistic that the endeavor would drive economic growth and prosperity in the region. Additionally, he gave a tribute to the hard work put in by the teams responsible for the project’s execution.
According to the president, the nuclear project is much bigger compared to the Bushehr nuclear plant with a capacity of 1,000 MW. The Iran-Hormoz nuclear power plant project is said to be part of the country’s goal of expanding its nuclear capacity as well as industry in the next two decades.
Capacity of the Iran-Hormoz nuclear power plant
The plant is expected to have a capacity of 5,000 MW power in total, once it is fully executed. It will be split into four units, with each unit having 1,250 MW.
The president also affirmed that the Iran-Hormoz nuclear power plant project is in accordance with the development plan of the Makran coast. The country is aiming to reach a generation capacity of 20,000 MW of nuclear power by the year 2041. This is according to the nation’s nuclear chief.The objective’s realization is being considered in the Hormozgan Province’ Makran coast.
Iran escalating its nuclear capacity regardless of pressure and sanctions
The west Asian country is escalating its capacity in nuclear power generation. It is also growing the nuclear sector amid extreme sanctions from the US.
Chief Mohammad Eslami announced a few months ago that at least 150 nuclear projects are currently in development. He added that some of these projects will be presented on April 9th by President Ebrahim Raisi.
Iran’s nuclear program has also experienced pressure exerted by the collective West. Comments in response to a joint statement made by the UK, France and Germany, the three European signatories, were provided by Nasser Kanaani in late December 2023.
These comments were directed to the 2015 nuclear accord- JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and the US.
What the statement included
The statement from US criticized the Iran’s reported growth in the manufacturing rate of the enriched uranium with at least 60% purity.
As per Kanaani, the countries should make the necessary political decisions instead of making statements which he described as ‘pointless’. He also emphasized that E3 is no longer taking part in negotiations.
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