After more than a decade of preparation, infrastructure development, and acquisition of complex technical expertise, Bangladesh is set to enter the nuclear power generation era as fuel loading begins at the country’s first nuclear power plant.
The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will officially start uranium fuel loading today, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s energy sector. The process will be formally inaugurated in the afternoon following the completion of all necessary preparations. Earlier, on April 16, the project received its commissioning licence from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.
To attend the ceremony, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev is expected to arrive in Dhaka in the morning with an 18-member delegation. According to government sources, he will meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman before traveling by helicopter to the Rooppur project site.
The inauguration ceremony will also be attended by Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, along with Russian ministers and high-level officials, who will jointly launch the fuel loading activities.
The start of this process comes after several delays due to international safety compliance and technical requirements. However, officials confirm that all obstacles have now been resolved, and the first unit is fully prepared. Notably, 59 Bangladeshi experts have already received operating licences to participate in the process.
Speaking about the timeline, Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Anwar Hossain said:
“The fuel loading process is expected to take around 45 days.
If everything proceeds as planned, we aim to add at least 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by late July or early August.”
He further added:
“By the end of the year, or early next year, the unit is expected to reach full capacity of 1,200 megawatts.”
The Rooppur project, located on the banks of the Padma River in Ishwardi, Pabna, has been constructed at a cost of approximately $12.65 billion with financial and technical support from Russia. The plant uses modern VVER-1200 reactor technology, ensuring advanced safety and efficiency standards.
Once both units become fully operational, the plant is expected to generate a total of 2,400 megawatts of electricity, significantly contributing to meeting the country’s growing energy demand.
Officials believe this milestone will not only strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security but also position the country among nations utilizing advanced nuclear technology for peaceful power generation.
