Lead

Construction activity at the second unit of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant has resumed, according to Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom. In statements reported by TASS, Likhachev said that concreting and reinforcing work at the site is underway again, with a limited number of Rosatom specialists on the ground coordinating with Iranian contractors.

The announcement comes amid ongoing regional tensions, though Likhachev said the situation at the plant site is calm and no attacks on nearby facilities have been observed.

Coverage Comparison

Two separate statements from Likhachev, both carried by the Russian state news agency TASS, provide the foundation for this report. The first, dated May 16, emphasized the technical resumption of construction work. The second, from May 8, focused on the gradual return of Iranian workers and the stability of the existing reactor unit.

While both accounts come from the same agency, they were issued roughly a week apart and reflect a consistent narrative: that the project is moving forward despite challenges. TASS's reporting is based directly on Likhachev's comments to reporters, with no independent verification from other outlets available in this analysis.

Key Claims

  • Resumption of construction: According to Likhachev, as reported by TASS, "Work has resumed on concreting and reinforcing the buildings of the second power unit of the Bushehr NPP now under construction." He added that Rosatom specialists who remained at the site are working with contractors to fulfill contractual obligations.
  • Return of Iranian workers: In the May 8 statement, Likhachev said about 2,200 employees of Iranian contractors had returned to the site. He described the construction site as "gradually coming back to life," with the primary focus on reinforcement and concreting work for Unit 2.
  • Operational status of Unit 1: Likhachev stated that Unit 1 of the Bushehr plant "continues to operate at 100% capacity." This claim is supported by a single source and has not been independently verified.
  • Equipment manufacturing: The reactor and steam generators for the second power unit are being manufactured as planned, according to Likhachev's May 16 remarks. This detail appeared in only one of the two reports.
  • Rosatom staff presence: Likhachev said that twenty Rosatom employees remain at the construction site, with another four in the central office in Tehran. This information was shared in the May 8 statement.

Perspectives

Russian official position (via Rosatom): The resumption of work is presented as a sign of project stability and continued cooperation with Iran. Likhachev emphasized that despite a small on-site team, the work is proceeding due to the high qualifications of remaining staff and remote technical support.

Iranian contractors' perspective (as conveyed by Likhachev): The return of approximately 2,200 Iranian workers suggests that local construction crews are re-engaging with the project. Likhachev's comments indicate a coordinated effort between Rosatom and Iranian contractors to meet contractual obligations.

Regional security context: Likhachev explicitly noted that no attacks on facilities in the vicinity of the plant have been observed, and that the situation at the site is calm. This point, while not elaborated in the reports, hints at the broader security environment in which the project operates.

These perspectives are drawn entirely from Likhachev's statements as relayed by TASS. No independent reporting on the ground in Iran was available for this analysis, and the claims have not been corroborated by other sources.