Construction Restarts at Bushehr Nuclear Facility
In a significant development for regional energy infrastructure, Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has announced the resumption of construction on the second unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. The move comes after a period of disruption caused by regional instability earlier this year.
Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, confirmed that work on the concreting and reinforcing of the second unit has officially restarted. According to Likhachev, specialists who remained on-site have already begun active cooperation with contractors to fulfill contractual obligations. To ensure continuity and safety, Rosatom has also deployed technical and consulting support remotely.
Overcoming Recent Security Challenges
The resumption follows a tense period this past March. The Bushehr nuclear power plant area was first targeted in an attack on March 17, followed by a second strike by Israel and the United States late on March 24. These events necessitated several rounds of personnel evacuations by the Russian side to ensure the safety of their workers.
While Rosatom has started developing plans to increase the number of personnel on-site, Likhachev emphasized a cautious approach. He noted that the decision to return the full workforce depends on the clarification of the current military situation.
A Cornerstone of Iranian Energy
The Russian-built Bushehr facility remains Iran's only operating nuclear power plant. Despite international scrutiny, Iran continues to deny seeking nuclear weapons, while Russia maintains its support for Tehran's right to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Adding to the project's outlook, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has stated that the facility sustained no damage during the recent attacks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
