Iran has made significant strides in the construction of the second and third units of the Bushehr NPP, with nearly 6m cubic metres of earthwork completed, according to Project Manager Masoud Nasouri. The development includes the installation of 47,000 piles for foundation reinforcement and the completion of the first two phases of shield installation.
He added that all construction contracts have been finalised. Currently, around 4,000 workers are involved in the project, and two recruitment campaigns have already been conducted to hire specialised personnel for future operations. Contracts have also been established with Iranian companies for the supply of domestically manufactured goods, ensuring compliance with safety and nuclear standards.
He said the new units represent an opportunity for the growth of knowledge-based companies within Iran’s nuclear energy sector. The construction efforts are on track, with the second unit expected to be operational within five years and the third unit 18 months later.
Bushehr unit 1, built by Rosatom, began operating in 2011 and reached full capacity the following year. Rosatom subsidiary ASE, which is the general contractor for the Bushehr project, and Nuclear Power Production & Development Company of Iran signed an EPC turnkey contract for construction of two VVER-1000 reactors Bushehr 2&3 in 2014 and preliminary work began at the site in December 2016. In March 2017, construction officially began of the two units, which were then planned to be commissioned in 2024 and 2026. Pouring of first concrete for Bushehr unit 2 took place in November 2019.
In October 2023, Iran poured concrete for a new section of Bushehr 2. The Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, said that the government’s support had accelerated the construction of the two reactors under deals worth €1.8bn ($1.9bn).
