The head of the Atomic Energy Organization said: "All infrastructure in the nuclear industry is done endogenously and completely indigenously; this means an integrated and independent capacity that is fully active within the country."
According to Ashura News, citing Mehr News Agency, on the occasion of Farvardin 10 and the 19th anniversary of the National Nuclear Technology Day, the Vice President and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran appeared on a special news talk show, while presenting a report on the President’s presence in this organization and visiting the measures taken by our country’s scientists and experts, and explaining the latest achievements and developments in the country’s nuclear industry.
At the beginning of this talk, Mohammad Eslami, referring to the achievements of Iran’s nuclear program, said: This year is the 19th year that we are celebrating Nuclear Technology Day. 19 years ago, we were at the starting point and had just entered the field of the nuclear industry. The nuclear industry has a wide and diverse scope and dimensions. Its very sensitive and decisive part, namely enrichment, is considered in a way the “mother” of this industry. This sector, due to its fundamental role and power-building, has always been under the monopoly of the global hegemony system, and they have tried with all their might to prevent anyone from entering this field and to maintain this monopoly.
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization continued: The Islamic Republic of Iran has completely passed this stage today with a loving, faithful, committed and continuous effort. Now we officially announce that we have entered the third phase of development, because we have passed the previous stages and reached the industrial level. An important point to note is that the enrichment sector is the main foundation and foundation of the nuclear industry. When we enter the enrichment process, we must also have the ability to convert it into fuel. This conversion is an essential and mandatory path that lies ahead of us. In addition, we must be able to design and produce research reactors and power reactors and bring them to maturity.
A new stage of the evolutionary process
The Vice President, noting that today we are witnessing the beginning of a new stage of this evolutionary process, said: We have been working seriously on this stage for the past decade and now, with confidence, we announce that we have entered its established path. In the past three years, about 150 achievements have been achieved continuously, and the main reason for this successful process is the comprehensive strategic document that was unveiled on Farvardin 1401 (Farwardin 1402) in the presence of martyr Ayatollah Raisi. This document outlined the path and rail for the development of the nuclear industry in the form of a program-oriented system so that all aspects of this industry can be expanded.
He added: This year, with the evaluations conducted by the judging committee, out of about 150 achievements, more than 68 projects were eligible for ranking, but ultimately six projects were selected for unveiling on Nuclear Technology Day. Other projects have either been introduced during the year or will be introduced in the future.
In response to the question of where the Islamic Republic of Iran stands in the field of nuclear technologies today, Eslami said: "It should be noted that, unlike many countries that operate in the nuclear industry, we are not faced with a similar narrative. Currently, most countries with nuclear industries operate in a network and in cooperation; meaning that each country owns part of the chain of this technology and supplies other parts from other countries or exchanges and trades with them. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran is in a special and completely distinct situation. We are under international sanctions, no country cooperates with us, and there is no possibility for us to receive assistance or transfer technology from abroad. This has led to all infrastructure, knowledge, design, construction and exploitation in the nuclear industry being carried out endogenously and completely indigenously; this means an integrated and independent capacity that is fully active within the country.
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, pointing out that we have made significant achievements in various fields of nuclear technology, noted: For example, in the radiopharmaceutical sector, which is one of the vital applications of this industry in the field of health and treatment and is directly related to people's lives, Iran is among the advanced countries today. In just this recent ceremony, three new radiopharmaceuticals were unveiled, which are among the first examples produced in the world. We have succeeded in designing, producing, processing and implementing these radiopharmaceuticals, and in this regard, we are in first place in the world.
He continued: In terms of the diversity of nuclear technologies, the Islamic Republic of Iran is among the top five countries in the world today. Also, in terms of the capacity and volume of activities in the field of the nuclear industry, Iran is among the top ten countries in the world. This position is the result of independent management, the continuous efforts of domestic experts, and belief in domestic power in the conditions of sanctions and international pressures.
Pointing out that we have not been harmed by the sanctions and will not be harmed, Eslami said: "Because basically we do not need to depend on the supply of equipment or knowledge from abroad to advance the activities of the nuclear industry. Today, a mechanism has been formed in the country that transforms ideas into products and moves from the research stage to production, becoming a coherent and powerful flow. This capacity is our strength and distinction."
Capabilities of the Atomic Energy Organization
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization, referring to the capabilities of this organization, said: In the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, we have the ability to transform any need that is identified as a national issue into technology, relying on the existing knowledge capacity and through research and innovation. In the past, some of these processes could take up to ten years, but now the time to transform an idea into technology in the Atomic Energy Organization has been reduced to less than three years. Of course, in some areas, such as the medical and health sectors, there are requirements that naturally limit the speed of the process and reducing the time is not possible. But in other areas, we achieve what we want, by the grace of God.
The Vice President noted: For example, in the past two years, with careful planning and serious determination, we succeeded in starting the industrial production of "Mellium", which is a very expensive, strategic material that the country needs in various fields. This action is an example of domestic capacity and will that has borne fruit by relying on faith, expertise, and strategic support.
Eslami continued: According to the planning, reaching a capacity of 20,000 MW of nuclear power has been defined as a national goal; an issue that has been emphasized by the Supreme Leader for years. This goal has been formulated in the framework of the organization’s strategic document and has also been included in the country’s Seventh Development Plan. The horizon for achieving this capacity has been set at 1420. Each nuclear power plant with a capacity of about 1,000 MW is a time-consuming process and requires a period of 7 to 9 years to implement. In this path, at least two years are dedicated to environmental, geological, physical studies, and risk analysis such as earthquakes. After the completion of these studies, reactor design begins and engineering maps and infrastructure are prepared to enter the implementation phase.
Emphasizing that the development of nuclear power plants in Iran has always faced foreign sabotage since the beginning of the process, the Vice President said: Before the revolution, Germany had started building a power plant, but with the victory of the Islamic Revolution, it abandoned the project. After years of stagnation and interruption, cooperation with Russia began, and finally in 2012, the installation of the Bushehr nuclear power plant was completed. This power plant entered production in 2013 and has so far produced about 72 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and injected it into the country's national grid.
He added: The Bushehr power plant alone produces 7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which provides a significant share of the country's electricity. Despite this, some believe that since we face blackouts or reduced electricity production at certain times of the year, then investing in nuclear energy has been fruitless. This view is incorrect and it should be noted that the development of the nuclear industry has been and still is accompanied by numerous obstacles and hostility, especially from the United States. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran, with perseverance and national will, is pursuing this path with strength. Our plan to develop power plants continues with strength and the horizon of 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power as a long-term goal is still on the agenda. Relying on indigenous knowledge, national will and the wise guidance of the leadership, we will continue this path until it is fully realized.
Eslami continued: In the path to achieving the strategic goal of producing 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power, detailed planning has been carried out for five provinces of the country, including Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Golestan. In these five regions, power plant plans have been defined and the relevant construction and operation companies have also been established and have begun their activities.
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization noted: Now in most of these regions, companies have chosen their desired technologies and systems, environmental studies are underway, workshops are equipped, and preparation stages have begun in some projects. For example, one of the large projects in Khuzestan province has entered the implementation phase and the construction of the power plant has actually begun.
Status of the second and third units of the Bushehr power plant
Regarding the second and third units of the Bushehr power plant, he said: Fortunately, these projects are in the best operational condition today. It is expected that these two units will be put into operation by the end of the Seventh Development Plan or with a short interval. After that, the implementation of other power plants will also begin according to the schedule, and every one to two years, a new power plant will enter the production circuit, so that the target of 20,000 MW will ultimately be achieved.
The Vice President noted: "In the current situation where climate change has become one of the fundamental global challenges and the increase in greenhouse gases has caused serious damage to the environment, Iran, as a country that has suffered more from climate consequences than the global average, has a duty to take effective measures to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. In this regard, international treaties and agreements have been formed to reduce pollutants, and many countries have decided to triple the capacity of their nuclear power plants. For example, France currently supplies 75 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy. The United States, China, and many other advanced countries are also rapidly developing this type of power plant."
Pointing out that nuclear power plants are among the cleanest and most sustainable sources of energy production in the world, Eslami said: Each megawatt nuclear power plant saves about one billion euros annually in fossil fuel consumption. Instead of directly consuming oil or gas to produce thermal energy, these resources can be used in higher value chains or exported at a higher price. On the other hand, investing in nuclear power plants has an economic return in a short time, given their high efficiency and long lifespan. In this regard, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has defined financial packages for the development of these projects, which will be implemented in the form of partnership contracts with the public and the private sector.
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization continued: Another important and strategic point is that today we are using the country's industrial capacity to fully build nuclear power plants domestically. Projects have been initiated in this regard so that Iran can join the ranks of independent nuclear power plant builders and completely eliminate foreign dependence. To achieve this goal, the activation of various parts of the chain, including the mining sector and the nuclear fuel cycle, has been put on the agenda. Currently, both the exploration and extraction of mineral resources are expanding and the fuel production capacities required by power plants have been strengthened. This area also provides a good opportunity for private sector investment, and part of it is currently being successfully implemented.
Explaining the position and achievements of the nuclear industry in the service of the people, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization said: Today, the nuclear industry of the Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved significant achievements, especially in areas that are directly related to people's lives. Three areas of these achievements can be seen in people's lives in a tangible and everyday way. The first area is the field of radiopharmaceuticals; an area that plays a vital role in both the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. For example, today we were able to unveil three new radiopharmaceuticals that are considered to be technologically advanced products at the international level.
He added: “Now, every person who visits medical centers and needs medical imaging – whether in the field of dentistry, radiology, scanning, or PET scanning – will definitely use radiopharmaceuticals produced at the Atomic Energy Organization. These drugs are an integral part of the medical imaging process. In addition to the field of diagnosis, therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals also play an effective role in the treatment of diseases, especially cancer. Last year, our strategy in this area focused on increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and increasing the effectiveness of treatment; a strategy that has now achieved clear and reliable results and is still being developed and improved. Currently, about one million people benefit from the services of domestically produced radiopharmaceuticals annually; a large number that indicates the widespread impact of this technology in the country’s health system.
The Vice President noted: The second part is related to the use of radiation in the agricultural and food industries. In recent years, we had promised to expand the infrastructure in this area and facilitate irradiation services for economic actors. Today, we are proud to announce that the irradiation capacity of 500,000 tons has been created in the country. This network has expanded from Khorasan to Khuzestan, from East Azerbaijan to Kerman, and has provided irradiation facilities to the private sector so that they can irradiate their agricultural and food products and prevent waste, pollution, and pests.
He continued: According to official statistics, about 30 percent of the country's agricultural products are wasted; a figure equivalent to 40 million tons. If even a part of this waste can be controlled through irradiation, it will have a great impact on the national economy, household economy, public health, and food security. Also, proper irradiation will remove export barriers and bring the country's products into line with global standards.
The Atomic Energy Organization's plans for this year
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization added: "Given that this year has been designated as the "Year of Investment for Production," the field of irradiation can be one of the most attractive fields for private sector investment. We have opened the way for private sector participation, held numerous meetings with associations and organizations, and provided support infrastructure. In addition to generating high income, this field is among the activities that have social and national value. We invite investors to enter this field, because in addition to economic benefits, it plays an effective role in improving the quality of life of the people. Overall, the country's nuclear industry is currently not only leading in advanced technology fields, but has also been able to directly and tangibly play an effective role in people's daily lives."
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization, pointing out that one of the important points is the progress in cold plasma technology, said: "A technology that we were able to bring to the exploitation stage. I mentioned it in the previous sections, but I must emphasize that this is also one of the important technological opportunities in the country. The most important current application of cold plasma is in the field of health; especially in dealing with chronic wounds, malignant wounds and cancer treatment. This technology is used in many advanced medical centers today due to its ability to accelerate wound healing and disinfection without damaging tissue.
He continued: "This technology also has special applications in the field of agriculture; especially in dealing with pistachio pests. As you know, Iranian pistachio exports have faced challenges in the field of pests and product health in recent years. In this regard, in cooperation with Dr. Nouri, we established a factory for the industrial application of cold plasma in pistachios. The factory was opened in June and then in November and is now available to economic activists in the pistachio field so that they can offer their products with higher quality and greater health to the domestic and foreign markets. This project is considered an important investment opportunity for the people and can also have a good economic return.
Referring to the investment infrastructure in the nuclear power plant industry, the Vice President said: In this direction, we have taken steps to create a platform for attracting public and private capital in nuclear power plant projects. These infrastructures are designed to facilitate the participation of the private and public sectors in the development of the nuclear power industry and help accelerate the implementation of projects.
Eslami added: The three key areas that will determine the future of the world's nuclear and scientific industry are: quantum technology, laser technology, and nuclear fusion technology. These three areas represent the future of energy, information processing, and scientific transformation of the world. Today, advanced countries are developing these technologies at a high speed, either through international cooperation or through hidden competition. We, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, have also begun a rapid movement in this direction, and we cannot neglect the future. A future that must be built and designed for the Iranian nation from now on.
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