Rooppur Reactor Readied for Fuel Loading by February End

Fuel loading for Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be completed by the end of February, according to Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Adviser for Science and Technology and Finance. He made the remarks while inspecting the project site and interacting with engineers and personnel involved in its implementation.

Expressing optimism, the Science and Technology Adviser said the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh’s first-ever nuclear power facility, would play a transformational role in the country’s national power sector.

On Friday (16 January), Dr Salehuddin Ahmed visited the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction project in Ishwardi, Pabna, where he reviewed on-site progress and held discussions with project officials.

According to a statement issued by the Press Wing on Sunday (18 January), the project is expected to significantly contribute to meeting Bangladesh’s growing electricity demand, while also strengthening energy security and supporting the country’s sustainable development goals. The Rooppur project is one of the government’s flagship mega projects, and construction work is now in its final stage, adhering to all international safety and regulatory standards.

Engineers from Rosatom, the project’s implementing partner, confirmed that fuel loading for Unit-1 is likely to be completed by the end of February. They also expressed hope that by March 2026, around 350 megawatts of electricity from Unit-1 will be supplied to the national grid. In later phases, the unit—designed with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts—is expected to generate and deliver approximately 1,150 megawatts of electricity on a sustained basis.

Senior officials present during the inspection included Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumder, Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, and Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Md Anwar Hossain. Representatives from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, and the Project Director of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant were also in attendance.

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