Rosatom returns specialists to Iran's Bushehr plant, plans to boost staff to 100 by autumn as construction on Units 2 and 3 continues; return hinges on US-Iran ceasefire

Rosatom is ramping up its workforce at Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, with plans to increase staff from 25 to 100 specialists by autumn. This move follows the return of five Russian engineers, as construction on Units 2 and 3 progresses despite ongoing military tensions.¹³

According to Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev, the total number of specialists at the site has now reached 25, with more expected to return in the coming weeks, contingent on the absence of military escalation. Likhachev stated, “If all goes well, we'll increase our project staff to 100 people by the autumn.” He emphasized that a full return to pre-war staffing levels is dependent on a final agreement between the U.S. and Iran regarding a cessation of hostilities.⁶

Construction activities for Bushehr Units 2 and 3 are ongoing, with the reactor for Unit 2 reported to be over 60% complete. The project aims to significantly boost Iran's nuclear capacity, adding 974 MW of net generating capacity, which would effectively double the country's existing nuclear output. Currently, Bushehr operates Iran's only nuclear reactor, providing 915 MW of capacity.⁴

Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, Rosatom's commitment to the project reflects Iran's ambition to expand its nuclear capabilities, targeting 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2040. The situation remains fluid, with Iran asserting that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless the U.S. meets specific demands, complicating the geopolitical landscape further.