Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, said on 18 March construction of two new nuclear power units has begun at the Bushehr site.  

The two units (Bushehr 2&3) are being built with the assistance of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Salehi said a million cubic metres of soil have been excavated and concreting is underway at the construction site. According to earlier reports, Bushehr 2 is expected to cost about $10 billion with the physical startups of unit 2 and unit 3 planned for October 2024 and April 2026.

Iran's first 1000MWe nuclear power plant was completed by Russia at Bushehr in May 2011.

Tehran is prohibited from developing nuclear technology for military uses under the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to which Iran remains committed despite the USA’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the treaty in May 2018. AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on 17 March that Iran would unveil 112 "very important" achievements in nuclear technology on 9 April, Iran's National Nuclear Technology Day.

"The unveiling of these achievements under the country's current circumstances will convey this message to the US and those enemies of Iran – that the Iranian nation has resisted economic sanctions and has turned threats into opportunities," he said. The achievements will include new breakthroughs in power plant, fuel cycle, laser, uranium extraction and other technologies, he added.  

Photo: Bushehr nuclear plant