RNPP first unit prepares for chain reaction
Following the completion of fuel loading at the country’s first nuclear power plant in Rooppur, final preparations are now underway for the next major milestone.
Officials concerned have indicated that a controlled nuclear chain reaction, or nuclear fission, may begin at the plant’s first unit later this month. To facilitate this, final tests and inspections of reactor safety systems, operational mechanisms, and national grid readiness are currently being conducted.
Meanwhile, the government has stepped up preparations in the transmission and distribution network to ensure that electricity generated by the nuclear power plant can be supplied safely and efficiently to the national grid. The readiness of the relevant agencies was reviewed at a meeting held at the Ministry of Power on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said that after gas- and coal-based power generation, nuclear energy is now being added to Bangladesh’s energy mix. However, operating such a sophisticated power plant requires further modernization of the country’s transmission and distribution systems.
The minister emphasised that effective coordination between transmission and distribution networks is essential for managing electricity generated by a nuclear power plant. He added that initiatives have already been taken to develop a modern, smart grid-based system.
Chain Reaction Expected This Month
Fuel loading at the first 1,200-megawatt unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) began in late April. The process was completed on May 12 with the installation of 163 fuel assemblies into the reactor core. Since then, the plant has entered the final phase of testing and safety verification.
Dr. Md Zahedul Hasan, Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Ltd, said a two-week period of intensive safety monitoring and technical inspections will be conducted before the chain reaction begins.
If everything proceeds according to plan, controlled nuclear fission is expected to start in the reactor later this month.
The initiation of the chain reaction will mark a historic milestone in Bangladesh’s journey toward nuclear power generation. Following this stage, the reactor will gradually begin producing heat, and after completing a series of operational and safety tests, limited electricity generation will commence.
