Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
The plant’s Unit 1 is Iran’s only operational nuclear generating unit. Construction and ongoing support have involved Russia’s Rosatom, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Strategic and market-access role
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is a nationally significant power asset in the Hormuz Graph because it connects Iran’s electricity system, strategic energy policy, coastal infrastructure, and high-sensitivity compliance exposure in one location. Its position near Bushehr’s Persian Gulf coast makes it part of a broader southern energy landscape that also includes ports, gas, petrochemicals, and industrial power demand. The asset is not a conventional investment target, but it is a critical context marker for power security, public infrastructure, regulatory sensitivity, and geopolitical risk analysis.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Useful for power-market context, energy-security analysis, compliance and geopolitical risk assessment, public-project monitoring, and mapping southern Iran’s strategic infrastructure exposure. Investors should use it mainly as a risk and systems-context asset when evaluating Bushehr Province, energy-intensive industries, port operations, or public-sector opportunities. Direct commercial relevance is likely limited and would require strict legal, regulatory, and sanctions verification.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: Unit 1: 1,000 MWe gross electric capacity, as of 2023. Bushehr II: two VVER-1000 reactors of 1,057 MWe gross electric capacity each were planned, as of 2023. Service area: Iran’s electricity system.
Industries served
Electricity generation; nuclear power.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Owner and operator
Owner: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), as of 2023. Operator: Nuclear Power Production and Development Company of Iran (NPPD), as of 2023.
Opening or commissioning
2013 for Unit 1 commercial operation.
Expansion and development projects
Bushehr II comprises Units 2 and 3. Unit 2 was under construction, with construction reported to have started on 27 September 2019. Unit 3 was planned. Capacity and timelines remain subject to change.
Constraints, risk & compliance
Operational constraints
The plant operates in a highly regulated nuclear environment under IAEA safeguards and inspections. Direct commercial activity requires applicable legal, regulatory and sanctions review.
Key risks and compliance considerations
Nuclear-regulatory, compliance, sanctions and geopolitical exposure are material considerations. Timelines and financing for the remaining Bushehr II units were not fully transparent in the reviewed public evidence.
Connected Intelligence
Relevant geography, industry, market and execution context for this profile.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions most likely to arise when reviewing this profile.
Where is Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant located?
The plant is in Bushehr Province, Iran, approximately 17 km southeast of Bushehr city.
Is Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant operational?
Unit 1 is operational. It first connected to the grid in September 2011 and began commercial operation in September 2013. As of 2023, Unit 2 was under construction and Unit 3 was planned.
What is the capacity of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant?
Unit 1 has a gross electric capacity of 1,000 MWe. As of 2023, the Bushehr II project contemplated two additional VVER-1000 units of 1,057 MWe gross capacity each.
Who owns and operates Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant?
As of 2023, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran owned the plant and the Nuclear Power Production and Development Company of Iran operated it.