Rosatom announced an increase in the pace of work at Bushehr NPP in 2027

Rosatom plans to return to the planned pace of work at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran during 2027 and bring the number of employees to the planned level, the head of the state corporation Alexei Likhachev said on the sidelines of the World Atomic Days forum, Interfax reports.

“The situation, of course, is still tense in the region, but in general, we are set to return to the planned pace of work over the next year and reach the planned number of our work,” Likhachev said.

In the near future, Rosatom also plans to increase the number of personnel at the Bushehr nuclear power plant from 180 to 300 people.

“180 people are already on the site, we plan to increase to 300 in the near future, because we do not yet see the risks associated with the possible slowdown of our work,” he added.

In addition, Likhachev reported on agreements with Iran on a new site for the construction of large nuclear power plants and agreements on small nuclear power units. According to him, the work on projects is carried out at the organizational and project levels. Their further implementation will depend on the political, military and economic situation in the country.

Bushehr is the first nuclear power plant in Iran and the Middle East. Construction began in 1975 and resumed with the participation of Rosatom 20 years after a long conservation.

In September 2011, the first power unit was first connected to the grid and in June 2013 put into commercial operation. The second is under construction and a contract has been signed for the construction of the third power unit.

In early October, Likhachev said that the Bushehr nuclear power plant employs 135 Russian specialists involved in three power units - two under construction and one operating.

In August, Rosatom began returning employees to Bushehr after evacuating amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Likhachev said that the restoration of the previous number of personnel depends on the final agreements on the cessation of hostilities. By the end of September, 80 specialists had returned to the site.