Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is moving towards supplying electricity to the national grid for the first time, with the country’s nuclear regulatory authority approving the first unit to enter the stage of limited power supply.
The approval marks a significant step in the commissioning of the country’s first nuclear power plant, which is being built at Rooppur in Ishwardi, Pabna, with Russian technical and financial support.
The initial supply is expected to take place on a limited basis anytime within a month as the first reactor progresses through the testing and commissioning process. The unit will still need to meet the applicable technical and regulatory requirements before moving to full commercial operation.
Rooppur comprises two Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors, with a combined planned generating capacity of 2,400 megawatts. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to make a substantial contribution to Bangladesh’s electricity supply.
The first unit reached its minimum controllable power level in October 2026, a key milestone in the process of bringing the reactor into operation. Further testing and regulatory oversight are required as the plant advances towards regular electricity generation.