Rooppur Nuclear Plant Advances as Fuel Shipment Arrives for Second Unit
PABNA, Bangladesh: Preparations are underway to load nuclear fuel into the second unit of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, following the arrival of its initial fuel shipment, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom said.
Fresh nuclear fuel for the first unit’s initial refueling has also arrived at the project site, according to a press release from Rosatom’s public relations department in Bangladesh on Thursday night.
Rosatom said the first unit completed its initial reactor fuel loading in 2026 and recently reached the minimum controlled power level (MCPL), a key technical milestone on the path toward commercial electricity generation.
The latest fuel shipment includes specialized nuclear fuel assemblies manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, which operates under Rosatom’s fuel division. The assemblies for the second unit were transported to Bangladesh by a dedicated cargo aircraft, while additional fuel for the first unit’s next refueling cycle was shipped from Siberia.
After arriving at the project site, the fuel containers were placed in designated secure storage facilities in accordance with international radiation safety requirements, Rosatom said.
Before installation in the reactor, each fuel assembly will undergo visual inspections and checks using specialized equipment. A joint commission comprising representatives of the Bangladesh government, the main contractor, and Russian fuel manufacturer specialists will oversee the inspection process.
All technical checks and safety clearances must be completed in accordance with applicable nuclear safety requirements before the fuel assemblies can be installed, the company said.
Grid Connection Still Awaits Testing and Approvals
Fuel delivery and loading preparations are important steps in commissioning the plant, but electricity supply to the national grid will require further technical work.
According to Rosatom, the units must undergo staged power-raising tests and trial electricity generation, along with other commissioning activities. Final approvals from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Bangladesh’s regulatory authorities are also required.
The Rooppur project is being built with two VVER-1200 reactors based on Russia’s Generation III+ nuclear technology. Each unit has a planned generating capacity of 1,200 megawatts, giving the plant a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts when both units are fully operational.
Rosatom’s engineering division is responsible for the plant’s design and serves as the project’s general contractor.
