10/01/2011
On top of paying $6.4 billion for each of the new nuclear plants, Iran is contractually obligated to also provide full insurance coverage for their installation and launching process. Additionally, under a separate addendum, Iran will assume full responsibility for all legal and international issues that may arise involving potential technical or radioactive leaking problems.
Green Experts of Iran: In its 4th trip to Moscow in April 2011, an Iranian delegate held meetings with Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, which ultimately led to purchasing of 5 nuclear plants from Russia … A certain recipe for disaster in every aspect, including economic, security or environmental dangers that it may pose. Green Experts’ findings show that the final contract in this series of nuclear deals has already been drawn and signed by both Iran and Russia.
In an effort to raise public awareness and to alert the masses to the grave dangers posed by such a deal, Green Experts of Iran has published a brief list of the details:
1) Russian government had recently issued an edict as to a plan to become the world’s largest exporter of nuclear plants and facilities. Accordingly, thus far in 2011, Russia has succeeded in selling 11 such nuclear plants to countries such as Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Bangladesh and Belarus; the largest numbers sold to Iran.
2) At the present time, components necessary for construction of 10 nuclear power plants of R.M.P.K. type are stored in industrial warehouses across Russia. These components were built based on old and outdated technology which was used in vulnerable plants that eventually caused the Chernobyl disaster and the Russians have not been able to sell them. Consequently, under the pretext of advancing the technology, the new name of RMPK57 was given to the same old parts that were referred to as refurbished systems. However, to their dismay, there were still no buyers for the rebuilt parts. As a result, the Russians changed their strategy altogether and adopted a new system of producing a new generation of nuclear power plants that actually met higher standards of safety. Even though, Mr. Putin had stated that they need an investment of about $55 billion in order to achieve the levels of those built in France, which has the highest standard of safety among European countries.
3) Following their negotiations with Iranian delegates, Russians were able to sell to Iran, five of its 10 so called “refurbished” plants (which due to the Chernobyl events, had been outlawed in international markets) for a price higher than the cost of new and modern plants that they sold to Ukraine and Turkey. It is noteworthy to mention that as a pre-condition of sales, Turkey had insisted on new and modern standards which were accepted by the Russians. For Turkey, a newly-built power plant would cost approximately $6 billion, while Iran had to pay $6.4 billion for the 5 rebuilt and substandard plants, which in total amounted to $32 billion, which is to be paid in 4 installments. According to Russians, this massive sale to Iran will provide the funds necessary for Russia to modernize its old technology in order to reach the levels of its counterparts in France.
4) Interestingly enough, the government of Bangladesh that was willing to buy the same plants as sold to Iranians, but using the excuse of the plants’ aged and unreliable mechanism, as leverage, they were able to pay only $2 billion, plus obtaining numerous warranties from the Russians as well. While Kazakhstan was also able to renegotiate the deal and only pay $2.3 billion plus warranties.
5) Iranian government on the other hand, on top of paying $6.4 billion for each of the power plants, is contractually bound to also provide full insurance coverage for their installation and launching process. In addition to that, and under a separate addendum, Iran also has to assume full responsibility for all legal and international issues that may arise involving any potential technical or radioactive leaking problems. As well as, consenting to never file a claim against any international organization irrespective of the events. But why? Why would Iran take such a huge risk and even promise not to file a suit to recover potential damages against the country? Reasons:
A- In recent months, Iran had asked a Russian team to conduct a geographical research to determine the ideal location for installing its newly acquired power plants. The Russian group did indeed spot 5 prime locations for the plants across Iran: (1) 45 kilometers N. of Mashad. (2) West of Qazvin. (3) Suburban Tabriz. (4) N. of Isfahan. (5) Southside of Nik Shahr. However, last summer, Iran counter-suggested its own choice of areas which included: E. of Ardabil – Area between Saari and Amol – 22 kilometers off of Minab – 38 kilometers from Isfahan and suburban Arak. The Russians’ response was that the type of soil and the geological conditions of these locations may not be suitable for the plants and that they might potentially cause dangerous accidents or radioactive leaks; which met with Iranians’ disapproval and the Russians ultimately went along with it.
Nuke Plant in city of Arak
B- Iran has asked the Russians to also construct 2 fully- equipped nuclear labs as an annex to the power plants in Arak and Isfahan, to help launch the BN600 reactors and to produce Uranium enriched to almost 50%, as fast as possible. The labs would cost the Iranians an extra $39 billion. This section of the contract is due to be signed in early October. Evidently, the enriched BN600 will be used almost exclusively for military purposes, and all plant operations will be coordinated by Khatam-al-Anbia (Business arm of the Revolutionary Guards.)
C- Iran has requested that a number of Iranian firms controlled by Khatam-al-Anbia, to be utilized for the construction needs of the project, and for the technical staff and engineers of the designated firms to be sent to Russia to receive proper training in operation, as well as security measures for the new power plants. Iran has subsequently sent an agreement stipulating her full responsibility for all potential security threats or technical, legal and insurance issues involving the new plants. This contract is considered a GOLDEN success for the Russians who will be selling 5 of their “obsolete” power plants for an exorbitant price, and with absolutely zero responsibility for all security or legal ramifications! As a justification for this agreement, the Russians have alluded to the 2004 construction of power plants in Lithuania where domestic technicians were used, which is claimed to have been the reason for its radioactive leak which eventually led to shutting down of the plant by European Union’s intervention. It is based on that incident that Iran must absolve Russia from all related responsibilities.
6) Iran has set up a special organization called “Mehr-Azad Energy” for the purposes of coordinating all financial transactions and technical procedures between Khatam-al-Anbia, Iranian officials and Russian companies. The office of Ayatollah Khamenei sits at the top of the management hierarchy of the organization which has secured its budget and full immunity from all Observing Committees, through an agreement secretly approved by the Budget Commission and the Parliament (Majlis.) The high-level Iranian delegates comprised of 18 officials will be the supervisory board at Mehr-Azad Energy. Among them, the oil minister, Ghasemi, and Ghalebani, Aliabadi, Hosseini-Sadr, Rahimi and Major General Firoozabadi, can be named. The financial affairs of the project will be managed by Mohammad-Reza Hasankhani representing Bank of Iran-Zamin, as well as Bahaeldin Hosseini Hashemi representing Bank of TAT.
Based on a decision made by Iranian officials, all monetary funds needed by the Iranian firms involved in the project, will be initially deposited in Russian bank accounts and then under the supervision of Mehr-Azad Energy, the designated representatives of each side will be mutually introduced and then the funds will be transferred back to the selected Iranian accounts. Bank Pasargad will be the main center for distribution and transferring of funds, which in collaboration with a Malaysian-Emirate financial consortium, will function out of United Arab Emirates.
Mehr-Azad Energy, the main liason between Iran and Russia, has already begun operations and as coordinated by both sides, expects to receive $200 million as its initial budget at the onset of 2012.
Link in Farsi: http://www.greencorrespondents.com/2011/09/blog-post_25.html
