The first shipment of nuclear fuel for the second unit of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived at the project site in Ishwardi, Pabna, on Saturday under tight security, marking the start of fuel deliveries for the 1,200MW reactor.
The consignment reached the plant at about 12.30pm after being transported by road from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, where it had arrived from Russia via India aboard a special cargo aircraft late on Friday night.
The shipment was originally due to arrive in Bangladesh on 24 September but was delayed after the aircraft failed to secure permission to fly through Pakistani airspace on its route from Russia.
The delivery was subsequently rescheduled after the logistical difficulties were resolved.
The shipment is part of a wider nuclear fuel supply programme being carried out by Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom. Between October and December, nine flights are expected to deliver 48 additional fuel assemblies for Unit 1 and 163 for Unit 2.
Fuel deliveries for Unit 1 began in October 2024 in several consignments. Saturday’s arrival marks the beginning of the fuel supply process for the second reactor.
Meanwhile, commissioning work on Unit 1 is continuing. Project officials said a high-pressure test of the reactor’s safety valves at 16 megapascals had recently been completed successfully.
Three further major tests must be completed before the reactor can enter the criticality stage, when a controlled nuclear chain reaction is initiated.
Project officials said Unit 1 could begin generating electricity by the end of this year if the remaining tests are completed as scheduled.
Rooppur, Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant, comprises two 1,200MW reactors being built with Russian technology and financing. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to supply 2,400MW of electricity to the national grid.