Rosatom has begun shipping nuclear fuel for the initial loading of Unit 2 of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, while completing the supply of fresh fuel required for the first refuelling of Unit 1.
The first batch of fuel assemblies for the Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactor at Unit 2 was transported to Bangladesh by a dedicated cargo flight, according to Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation.
The fuel assemblies were manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, an enterprise of Rosatom’s Fuel Division.
Rosatom has also completed shipments of fresh nuclear fuel from Siberia for the first refuelling of Unit 1, which is scheduled after the reactor completes its first annual operating cycle.
Upon arrival at the plant, the fuel containers were transferred to a dedicated fresh nuclear fuel storage facility. The assemblies will undergo mandatory visual and instrumental inspections to ensure they meet technical specifications and nuclear safety requirements.
A joint commission comprising representatives from Bangladesh, the project’s general contractor and the fuel manufacturer conducts the inspections in accordance with nuclear and radiation safety regulations.
In 2026, Rosatom’s Engineering Division completed the initial loading of nuclear fuel into the reactor core of Unit 1.
The reactor subsequently reached its minimum controllable power level in October, marking a significant milestone in preparations for electricity generation.
However, the unit must complete further power-ascension tests and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals before it can be connected to the national grid and proceed to trial commercial operation.
The Rooppur project, located in Pabna, is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant. It comprises two Russian-designed Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors with a combined generating capacity of 2,400 megawatts (MW).
Rosatom’s Engineering Division serves as the project’s general designer and general contractor.