Rosatom Scales Up Russian Engineering Presence at Bushehr

Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev confirmed that several dozen more technical experts are scheduled to arrive over the coming fortnight. These teams are tasked with accelerating work on the main and auxiliary structures for Units 2 and 3, alongside the necessary hydraulic engineering facilities. This deployment follows a slow return that began in July, after hundreds of Russian personnel were evacuated earlier this year due to regional instability and U.S.-led strikes near the complex.

The site remains a critical piece of Tehran’s energy strategy. Unit 2 is slated to add 974 MW of capacity, effectively doubling the country's current nuclear output. While Iran aims for a total of 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2040 to mitigate chronic electricity shortages, progress remains tethered to the regional security climate. Likhachev noted that restoring full staffing levels depends on a formal cessation of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, a milestone that remains elusive as tensions persist around the Strait of Hormuz.