Bangladesh is set to enter the club of nuclear power-producing nations as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant prepares to begin uranium fuel loading in its first unit, marking a major milestone after a decade of construction and technical development.
The commissioning follows the issuance of a licence on Apr 16, allowing fuel insertion into the reactor core under strict oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which verified compliance with safety requirements.
Fuel loading at the first unit, located in Ishurdi Upazila of Pabna, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Authorities said the process will take at least 45 days to complete.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam recently said the activity would begin in the afternoon, calling it a historic moment for the country’s energy sector.
He added that the project is progressing under the direct guidance of the prime minister.
Officials said experimental electricity generation from the first unit may begin within three months of fuel loading, likely by late July or early August.
Initial output is expected at around 300 megawatts to the national grid, with gradual scaling towards full capacity by January 2027.
The project timeline has been revised several times since construction began in 2017 due to global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Key officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom, and the IAEA, are expected to attend the fuel loading ceremony.
Former Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission chairman Shawkat Akbar described fuel loading as the most critical stage of the project, marking the transition to “first criticality”, where a controlled chain reaction begins to produce energy.
According to Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Ltd Managing Director Zayedul Hasan, 59 Bangladeshi specialists have already obtained international certification to operate the plant.
Around 5,000 Russian and 20,000 Bangladeshi workers are currently involved in the project, with operations expected to be gradually handed over to local experts.
Safety experts have stressed strict adherence to IAEA protocols, noting that while the process may take longer, it ensures operational security.
Public awareness activities have also been conducted in nearby areas, including Char Shahapur, to address concerns and counter misinformation over the plant’s safety and environmental impact.
Built at a cost of $12.65 billion on the banks of the Padma River, the plant will consist of two units with a total capacity of 2,400 megawatts.
Officials estimate it could eventually meet around 10 percent of Bangladesh’s electricity demand while reducing dependence on imported fuel.
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