Iran (IMNA) - Following the finding of radioactive materials and rare-earth elements in the Jang-e Sar district of Khoy in the northwest province of West Azarbaijan, the project was started on Thursday.
The complex may play a "significant role" in advancing the country's strategy for nuclear power generation, according to Mohammad Eslami, chairman of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, who spoke during the complex's inauguration.
This mining complex has "such [great] capacity that undoubtedly it will be a hub for supplying the raw material for nuclear fuel production, and it will play a significant role in supporting the plan to produce 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power," he added.
There have reportedly been discoveries of uranium, molybdenum, and several other rare-earth elements in the region.
According to Eslami, the area has the potential to be a significant supply of rare-earth elements, which have several industrial uses.
The source pointed out that aerial geophysical surveys were used to find the possible mines and that discovery activities in the area started last year.
The official predicted that the project would be finished in 2.5 years and that the first phase would cost around 10 trillion rials, or about $20 million, to complete.
The Bushehr nuclear power facility in Iran's southern Bushehr region now generates 1,000 megawatts annually.
As part of efforts to meet rising energy demand, it intends to construct more nuclear power facilities to increase its nuclear electricity production capacity to 20,000 megawatts.
The strategy enables the country to release more of its oil and gas resources for export while allaying environmental worries over its extensive network of fossil fuel power plants.
Legislation issued by the Iranian parliament, in the meantime, mandates that the AEOI enhance Iran's nuclear energy production capacity in order to meet the nation's rising demand, which has already reached a high of 73 GW this summer.
Iran has made great progress in recent years toward developing a peaceful nuclear energy program, despite difficulties brought on by US sanctions and Western-imposed restrictions.
As a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran has maintained a strong and cooperative relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This partnership demonstrates Iran's dedication to upholding international rules and regulations controlling nuclear operations.
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