Ishwardi Correspondent :
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has commended the operational readiness, professionalism, and commitment to safety of staff at Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant in Rooppur.
Following a comprehensive inspection under its Pre-Operational Safety Review Team (Pre-OSART) mission, the IAEA highlighted the plant’s progress towards meeting international safety standards, while also offering recommendations for further improvement.
The Pre-OSART mission was conducted from 10 to 27 August in Rooppur, Pabna, at the request of the Government of Bangladesh. The primary objective of the mission was to assess the plant’s operational safety systems ahead of commercial commissioning of its first unit.
In a press release published on the IAEA website, the agency described its discussions with plant personnel as “fruitful”. It noted that knowledge-sharing and experience exchange could help further enhance the facility’s safety framework. The expert team lauded the staff’s technical skills, professionalism, and strong dedication to improving operational safety and reliability.
The IAEA team, comprising 14 international experts from countries including Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, the UK, and the USA, was supported by IAEA staff and an observer from the Russian Federation.
Their review covered a wide range of areas, including leadership and safety management, training and qualifications, operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, and commissioning procedures.
Rooppur’s management was described as “excellent”, with the plant’s use of state-of-the-art simulators for training on fuel refuelling machines receiving particular praise. The IAEA stated that the plant could serve as a model for other nuclear facilities globally.
While the overall findings were positive, the Pre-OSART mission made a series of recommendations to further strengthen safety systems. These include enhancing fire protection measures, improving supervision and management practices, and reinforcing maintenance and conservation systems during the commissioning phase.
Simon Morgan, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA, noted: “Safe operation from commissioning to full operation is the most critical phase for any nuclear power facility. The authorities in Bangladesh have shown a strong commitment to managing this phase in full compliance with national and IAEA standards. The Rooppurstaff are highly skilled and dedicated to ensuring a robust safety culture.”
A draft report of the mission has been submitted to the Bangladeshi authorities, who now have the opportunity to provide comments before the IAEA finalises the report within three months.
DrZahedulHasan, Managing Director and former Project Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), welcomed the findings. “The IAEA review has been constructive and encouraging,” he said. “As a high-tech, safety-critical project, each stage of Rooppur’s development is being implemented under strict planning and controls to minimise risk and maximise efficiency.
“Following the Pre-OSART mission, the final OSART mission is expected to take place. If the IAEA’s recommendations are fully implemented and the necessary approvals are granted, nuclear fuel is scheduled to be loaded into the first unit. Once loaded, it will take approximately 90 days to begin commercial power generation.
In his statement to the IAEA delegation, Rooppur Project Director DrMdKabirHossain reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest safety and reliability standards. “This mission has helped us identify areas for improvement and strengthen our efforts to build a safe and reliable nuclear energy programme,” he said.
Professor DrShafiqul Islam of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Dhaka University also emphasised the importance of implementing the IAEA’s recommendations without delay. “Nuclear energy is a vital part of Bangladesh’s energy future,” he said.
“Preparedness is essential-particularly the establishment of an emergency response centre to manage any incidents during fuel loading or operations. Public awareness and transparency are also critical to building trust and dispelling misconceptions.”
A final exchange of views between IAEA representatives and Bangladeshi stakeholders was held at the conclusion of the mission. Attendees included Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chairman DrMdMojiburRahman, NPCBL Managing Director DrZahedulHasan, and representatives of Russian state contractor Atomstroyexport.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being constructed at $12.65 billion, with two VVER-1200 model reactors supplied under Russian financial and technical assistance.
