Bangladesh Enters the Nuclear Era—A Historic Milestone Uranium Loading to Begin today at the Country’s First RNPP

Ending a long wait, Bangladesh is set to join the elite group of nations producing nuclear power.

After a decade of uninterrupted infrastructure development and overcoming numerous complex technical stages, the much-awaited commissioning licence has finally been granted.

Formal loading of nuclear fuel (uranium) into Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) begins today (April 28, 2026), marking the start of the commissioning process for the country’s first nuclear power plant.

This is being regarded as a historic milestone on Bangladesh’s path toward carbon-free electricity generation.

The plant’s nuclear fuel—uranium—arrived in Bangladesh in September 2023.

Since then, it has been stored within the project premises under the highest security measures.

Beginning Tuesday, the fuel will be inserted into the reactor pressure vessel.

Unlike fossil fuels, uranium-235 is a highly enriched metallic substance produced through a series of processes from mined ore.

To ensure that this fuel poses no threat to people or the environment, the highest levels of safety and security have been established.

For this purpose, a state-of-the-art Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor has already been installed at the plant.

With a service life three to four times longer than conventional power stations, the reactor is designed to generate extraordinary energy output—just one gram of uranium can produce approximately 24,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom have been working jointly to ensure the successful completion of the fuel loading operation.

Experts believe this marks Bangladesh’s formal entry into the nuclear age.

Although progress was somewhat delayed by the global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the government’s firm commitment enabled the project to reach this milestone.

After Bangladesh fulfilled all safety and regulatory requirements under the strict oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the operating authority received a licence on April 16 permitting fuel insertion into the reactor core.

Minister for Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam said uranium loading into Unit-1 will begin Tuesday afternoon, describing it as “a historic moment for the country’s energy sector.”

He noted that completing the fuel loading process will take approximately 45 days.

If everything proceeds according to plan, at least 300 megawatts of electricity could be connected experimentally to the national grid by July or August.

Within a year, Unit-1 is expected to begin full commercial operation at full capacity, providing uninterrupted electricity to the country.

He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate the grid connection process for the plant’s electricity generation at Rooppur.

Meanwhile, the project area has been decorated festively to mark the fuel loading ceremony.

Representatives from the IAEA, Russia, and several other foreign delegations are expected to attend.

Dr. Zahedul Hasan, Managing Director of Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Limited, said the Ministry of Science and Technology has organized an inauguration ceremony at the project site at 3:00 pm.

According to him, the event will be chaired by Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, while distinguished guests will include government adviser Rehan Asif Asad, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi (through a recorded statement), and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.

A documentary on project implementation will also be screened during the ceremony.

A Long History Behind Rooppur
The history of the Rooppur project stretches back decades. The concept first emerged in the 1960s.

In 1962, after evaluating twelve potential sites, Rooppur in Pabna was selected as the most suitable location for a nuclear power plant.

Later, in 1977, French company Sofratom completed a feasibility study, but political and economic limitations delayed implementation for many years.

In 1995, nuclear energy was officially recognized in Bangladesh’s national energy policy as a promising alternative energy source.

Building on that framework, Bangladesh and the Russian Federation signed an intergovernmental agreement in 2011 to construct the nuclear plant at Ishwardi in Pabna district.

Subsequently, on December 25, 2015, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission signed a general contract with Rosatom’s engineering arm, JSC Atomstroyexport, covering plant construction, equipment supply and installation, commissioning, trial operation, manpower training, and the supply of nuclear fuel for the first three years of operation.

Technical Path to Power Generation
Dr. Zahedul Hasan said that physical construction of the project’s vast infrastructure—including the reactor building, turbine building, cooling systems, electrical substations, and 389 supporting structures—has been nearly completed.

The next stage is Physical Start-Up, beginning with loading enriched uranium fuel into the reactor core.

According to reactor design specifications, 163 fuel assemblies must be installed in the core, a process expected to take around 30 days.

This operation is conducted under strict international safety protocols, with every stage monitored through specialized systems.

Once fuel loading is completed, the Physical Start-Up phase will begin, during which nuclear fission will be initiated according to design specifications.

Necessary tests during this stage will take approximately 34 days.

Afterward, reactor power will gradually be raised to 3%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, a process expected to take about 40 days.

When the reactor reaches 30% power, electricity can be connected to the national grid—marking the beginning of Rooppur’s electricity supply.

According to IAEA guidelines, this stage is known as Stage C: Power In the next phase, called Stage D: Tri
Start-Up or Grid Synchronization.al Operation, reactor output will gradually be increased further while safety tests continue.

It is expected to take approximately 10 months before the plant reaches 100% power generation capacity and supplies full electricity to the national grid.

A New Era for Bangladesh
Project officials said Rooppur consists of two advanced third-generation VVER-1200 units, each with a generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

The reactor technology includes advanced safety systems, automated control mechanisms, and long-term operational reliability.

Features such as modern containment structures, core catchers, and multi-level safety designs make it internationally recognized as one of the safest and most dependable nuclear technologies available.

Each unit is designed for a service life of 60 years, extendable by another 30 years through proper maintenance and refurbishment.

Once Rooppur becomes operational, Bangladesh will enter a new era in electricity generation.

The plant is expected to strengthen energy security, accelerate industrialization, and contribute significantly to sustainable development through environmentally friendly electricity generation.

At the same time, it will play a vital role in advancing Bangladesh’s scientific capability, technological development, and skilled human resource base.

(The writer is our Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent)