Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project moved a significant step closer to electricity generation on Tuesday after authorities completed fuel loading at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), strengthening the country’s long-term energy security strategy amid rising power demand and costly fuel imports.
According to an official statement, fresh nuclear fuel has now been fully loaded into the reactor core of the plant’s first unit, marking one of the final and most critical phases before commissioning and commercial power production begin. The fuel loading operation started on 28 April and involved the sequential insertion of 163 fuel assemblies into the reactor core.
Project officials described the procedure as a major technical milestone for Bangladesh’s energy sector, as the country seeks to diversify its electricity mix and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, including liquefied natural gas and furnace oil, which have increased pressure on foreign currency reserves and electricity subsidy costs in recent years.
Alexey Deriy, Vice President of Atomstroyexport, said the fuel loading process had been completed in line with the initial core loading programme, operational regulations and international nuclear safety standards.
“The work was carried out in full compliance with the initial core loading programme, operational regulations and international nuclear safety standards,” he said.
He added that the next phase of work would include the installation of the upper reactor unit and the integration of all required in-core instrumentation systems before further technical assessments begin.
“Hundreds of additional tests will then be conducted to ensure the reliable and safe operation of all process systems,” the vice president said.
According to him, the reactor will subsequently be brought to its minimum controllable power level before capacity is gradually increased ahead of power start-up and trial commercial operation.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, located in Pabna district, is being developed with Russian financial and technical assistance and represents the largest energy infrastructure project in Bangladesh’s history. The facility includes two VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactors with a combined electricity generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts.
The project is expected to play a central role in Bangladesh’s future electricity supply by providing stable baseload power at a time when volatility in global fuel markets, supply chain disruptions and fluctuating oil and gas prices continue to challenge energy-importing economies.
Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, through its Engineering Division, serves as the general designer and contractor of the project. The VVER-1200 reactor technology used at Rooppur complies with modern international nuclear safety requirements and is currently deployed in several countries as part of Russia’s expanding global nuclear energy partnerships.
Once operational, the plant is expected to reduce pressure on Bangladesh’s gas-fired power generation system and help stabilise electricity supply for industries and households, supporting broader economic growth and industrial expansion.
