Rosatom boosts Bushehr nuclear staff to 100 as reactor expansion advances
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Rosatom plans to boost its workforce at Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant from 25 to about 100 specialists by autumn, CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Monday. Five engineering and technical specialists have already arrived, with several dozen more expected in the coming weeks, as the company resumes a deployment interrupted by U.S.-Israeli strikes. A full return to pre-war staffing remains contingent on a final U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement.
Workforce Ramp-Up
Five engineering and technical specialists recently arrived at Bushehr, with several dozen more due over the next two weeks, according to Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev. The returning personnel are working on main and auxiliary buildings for Units 2 and 3 and preparing hydraulic facilities. The deployment expands a return that began in July, when the first six Rosatom employees went back after mass evacuations. Currently, 25 Russian specialists are on site, with plans to reach 100 by autumn.
Reactor Expansion
Bushehr is Iran’s only operating nuclear power plant, with a net capacity of 915 MW. Units 2 and 3, designed to add 974 MW net each, were halted in March after U.S. and Israeli strikes landed near the complex. Iran targets 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2040 to address electricity shortages, and Russia and Iran signed a $25-billion agreement last year for four additional units in southeastern Iran. The IAEA reactor database lists Unit 2 as a VVER-1000 design.
Ceasefire Condition
Rosatom’s buildup remains contingent on a final U.S.-Iran agreement ending hostilities, Likhachev said. Iran stated Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed unless Washington meets demands, even as Tehran and Oman reportedly near a deal on new shipping lanes. Hundreds of Russian personnel were evacuated earlier in the year when strikes began, and a full return hinges on a durable ceasefire.
What's Next
Rosatom expects to reach the 100-specialist target by autumn, but a full staffing restoration may require a formal U.S.-Iran ceasefire. It remains unclear whether ongoing negotiations can resolve the Strait of Hormuz dispute and allow uninterrupted construction.
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Rosatom boosts Bushehr nuclear staff to 100 as reactor expansion advances
