Iran to Build a New Nuclear Reactor: Energy Chief

Iran will soon build another nuclear reactor in the north-western city of Bonab in East Azarbaijan province, revealed Fereidoun Abbasi, the chief of Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI).

Tehran's energy chief said the research reactor will be "harmless" and will be used for medical purposes.

Abbasi told Tehran's officials in a meeting, "A pool-type reactor, which is harmless and is merely used for research purposes will be built at the center."

The energy chief went on to say, "Iran is self-sufficient in producing nuclear fuel material and can even export specialised services [in the field of nuclear energy]."

Earlier, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hinted at the progress of Tehran's nuclear programme saying the country will soon create "an epic."

Abbasi added that Iran will double its nuclear energy production in another 12 months time.

"So far, 1,000 megawatts of nuclear power has been generated in the country. At present, the necessary infrastructure and essential equipment are being prepared inside the country," he said adding the production will go up to 2,000 megawatts of power.

In the next five years, Iran intends to increase its nuclear power supply to 20,000 megawatts.

The US has been suspecting Iran's nuclear programmes are convert operations for Tehran's production of nuclear weapons, a viewpoint strongly condemned by Iran.

Earlier in the month, Ahmadinejad said he had ordered to "speedily" build five more nuclear reactors in the country.