Test operations at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, have been temporarily suspended after a technical fault was detected during commissioning tests following fuel loading.
Plant authorities on Sunday said that the issue emerged during a pressurisation exercise conducted as part of a “cold run” test on Friday. The fault was identified while systems were being prepared for the next stage of trial operations, leading engineers to pause activities as a precaution.
Officials, however, stressed that the problem is minor and that corrective work is already underway. According to RNPP media focal point officer Saikat Ahmed, operations will resume once the fault is fully resolved. “The issue has been identified and repair work is in progress. System operations will restart very soon after rectification,” he said.
The Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which is overseeing construction and technical implementation, has been informed of the development. While Rosatom did not issue an official statement, a representative speaking unofficially said such issues are routine during the commissioning phase of large nuclear facilities.
During this stage, multiple system checks are carried out after fuel loading to ensure safety and operational readiness before power generation begins. Officials noted that similar technical adjustments had previously been required, including an earlier issue involving the reactor cooling pump that temporarily delayed progress.
The plant officially entered its operational testing phase after 163 fuel assemblies were loaded into Unit-1’s reactor core in mid-May, following fuel loading on 28 April.
Authorities maintain that once all systems perform as required, a controlled chain reaction will be initiated to begin electricity generation, with expectations of supplying around 300MW from Unit-1 in the coming months.
Despite the temporary setback, officials and technical experts, including those from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), continue to describe the situation as part of normal commissioning procedures, with no major safety concerns reported.
