Fourth Uranium Shipment for Rooppur Unit 2 Arrives

The fourth shipment of nuclear fuel, or uranium, for Unit 2 of the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, arrived at the project site on Saturday (October 31, 2026). Three trucks carrying the fuel entered the site at around 7:17 am under special security provided by the Bangladesh Army.

The fuel was flown from Russia to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Friday (October 30). At around 3 am on Saturday, three fuel-carrying trucks left the airport for Rooppur. Under military escort, the convoy crossed the Bangabandhu Bridge and travelled through Bonpara in Natore and Dashuria in Ishwardi before reaching the project site.

Police personnel were stationed at various points along the highways during the transportation. Members of the Army, SRB and intelligence agencies also took part in security operations. Police and project sources said the fuel was transported from Dhaka to Rooppur by road under special security arrangements. Heavy vehicle movement was temporarily restricted on parts of the highway to avoid traffic congestion.

According to people familiar with the project, a total of 163 uranium assemblies for Unit 2 are scheduled to arrive in seven cargo shipments. Another 48 uranium assemblies are expected in two cargo shipments for refuelling Unit 1. Saturday’s delivery marked the fourth shipment of fuel for Unit 2.

Further uranium shipments are expected to arrive from Russia on seven more flights during November and December. Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom has said it aims to complete the entire fuel supply process by December.

The first shipment of nuclear fuel for Unit 1 arrived in Bangladesh on September 29, 2023. Four additional shipments were transported to Rooppur in October and November that year. Fuel was loaded into Unit 1’s reactor in May this year. Around one and a half years later, one-quarter of the fuel used in Unit 1 will need to be replaced. A shipment of additional fuel for Unit 1 arrived at Rooppur on October 3 this year. The second and third shipments for Unit 2 arrived on October 21 and October 27, respectively.

Under the agreement, Russia will supply nuclear fuel to Rooppur for the first three years. Bangladesh will then have to import fuel for scheduled replacements. The two units of the power plant have a combined generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts.

Meanwhile, trial electricity generation at Unit 1 reportedly began on Friday (October 30). Project stakeholders expect electricity from Rooppur to be connected to the national grid by December, although the timeline will depend on the completion of required testing and approvals.

//DBTech/ Ronjit Kumar Shil/SMP/MIST//