Russia begins sending back its experts to Bushehr power plant

TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (YPA) – Russian state corporation Rosatom has begun returning Russian specialists to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran.

Rosatom said the first five engineering and technical specialists have resumed work at the plant, bringing the number of Russian experts currently stationed at Bushehr to 25.

Rosatom Chief Executive Alexey Likhachev said the company has begun returning specialists to the Bushehr construction site, with the first five engineering and technical workers already arriving and starting work.

 “That brings the total number of Russian specialists to 25,” he said.

 Likhachev said Rosatom plans to return all specialists previously evacuated from Iran “as soon as possible,” but a return to prewar staffing levels will depend on final agreements between the US and Iran on a cessation of hostilities.

 “We plan to send the next group, several dozen employees, in the next two weeks,” he said. “This is, of course, assuming there is no further escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran. If all goes well, we will increase our project staff to 100 by the fall.”

 He further confirmed that construction remains ongoing for the reactor buildings of Units 2 and 3 at the Bushehr plant.

 The statement came after Likhachev previously reported strikes in Iran’s Bushehr province, while confirming that no injuries or damage were recorded inside the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

@E.Y.M