Rosatom set to restore full workforce at Bushehr nuclear power plant soon

Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom expects to complete its plan to restore staffing levels at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant in the coming weeks, CEO Alexey Likhachev told RIA Novosti.

“I am confident that in the coming weeks we will be able to implement our plan to restore staffing levels and bring the pace of construction work back to our planned indicators,” Likhachev said.

He noted that concrete and reinforcement work has already resumed at the structures of the second power unit under construction at the Iranian Bushehr nuclear plant.

According to the Rosatom chief, equipment production for the new unit continues according to schedule; however, he added that it is still too early to return all Russian specialists to the site.

A major evacuation of Russian personnel from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant began in late March 2026 after escalating regional security risks linked to nearby military strikes. 

Rosatom initially reduced staffing to a minimum and withdrew non-essential employees, keeping only a small group of specialists to maintain safety systems and monitor equipment at the site. 

By early April, Rosatom confirmed a large-scale evacuation phase, with hundreds of workers leaving the facility and being relocated through neighbouring countries such as Armenia. The company stated that only a small “volunteer” group would remain temporarily to ensure operational stability and safeguard construction infrastructure.

Around mid-April, Rosatom reported that the evacuation had effectively reached its final stage, with more than 600 personnel withdrawn from Iran and only about 20 specialists left at Bushehr to oversee critical functions. The decision was described as a response to worsening security conditions near the plant, including strikes occurring dangerously close to the facility.

By Jeyhun Aghazada