Bangladesh begins uranium fuel loading at Rooppur nuclear plant, entering nuclear power era with electricity generation expected soon, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy development.
Bangladesh has begun loading uranium fuel into the reactor at its first nuclear power plant in Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, marking a major step toward electricity generation from atomic energy and making the country the world’s 33rd nuclear power user.
The fuel loading was inaugurated on Tuesday afternoon under tight security at the facility in Pabna. Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam described the moment as historic, saying the project had prioritised safety at every stage.
“Through today’s fuel loading, Bangladesh has become part of history,” he said, adding that electricity from the plant would contribute not only to Pabna but also to the country’s broader socio-economic development. The ceremony concluded with guests activating the loading process via an automated switch.
Speakers included the prime minister’s science and technology adviser Rehan Asif Asad and Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, joined the event virtually.
Once inserted into the reactor vessel, uranium fuel will generate heat that turns water into steam, driving turbines to produce electricity. Tuesday’s development marks the start of fuel loading in the first of the plant’s two units.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, this is the final stage before commercial electricity generation. Power production will begin gradually on a trial basis, with about 300 megawatts expected to be supplied to the national grid by August.
The Rooppur plant is Bangladesh’s largest single infrastructure project. It is being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission under the science and technology ministry. Two units, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, are being built by Russia’s contractor Atomstroyexport.
Officials said the project was formally recognised as a nuclear installation after fuel arrived on site in October 2023. Bangladesh’s inclusion among nuclear-capable nations followed the receipt of that fuel. Tuesday’s step marks the beginning of its practical use.
The first shipment of nuclear fuel reached Dhaka by air from Russia on September 28, 2023, followed by several more consignments. Under special security arrangements, the fuel was transported by road to Rooppur in October and stored there until loading began.
