Fifth shipment from Russia reaches the plant through an alternative route
Rooppur Receives Uranium via Padma Bridge for First Time
- Three specialised trucks carrying uranium have reached the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through the Padma Bridge for the first time
- The convoy entered the project site at around 7:30 am on Friday under military supervision and tight security
- Project officials said the route was changed to avoid possible unrest linked to garment workers’ protests in Gazipur.
The fifth shipment of uranium brought from Russia has reached the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, via the Padma Bridge for the first time. Instead of the conventional route, the nuclear fuel was transported in three specialised trucks through the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, Padma Bridge, Faridpur, Rajbari and Kushtia.
The convoy entered the Rooppur project site at around 7:30 am on Friday (6 November 2026), under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army and tight security provided by other law enforcement agencies.
According to relevant sources, the alternative route was used this time instead of the conventional Dhaka-Tangail Highway and Bangabandhu Bridge. From Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, the convoy travelled along the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, crossed the Padma Bridge, and passed through Bhanga in Faridpur, Rajbari, Kushtia and the Lalon Shah Bridge at Pakshi before reaching Rooppur. This route had not previously been used to transport uranium to the project.
Until now, uranium consignments had been transported from Dhaka airport via the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, Bangabandhu Bridge, Bonpara in Natore and Dashuria in Ishwardi, Pabna.
K. B. M. Ruhul Kuddus, site in-charge of the Rooppur project, said the alternative route was selected for security reasons to avoid the ongoing garment workers’ protests in Gazipur and the possibility of clashes.
Earlier, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom said it planned to bring 163 uranium fuel assemblies for Rooppur’s second unit in seven cargo flights. Another 48 assemblies for refuelling the first unit were scheduled to arrive in two additional cargo flights. In total, the plan covers nine consignments of nuclear fuel.
Built with Russian technology, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has two VVER-1200 units. The first unit has already entered the ‘Power Startup Stage-C’ phase. On 29 October, the chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) approved the start of this phase.
During Stage-C, the reactor’s power level is gradually increased to test the performance of the plant’s equipment, turbine-generator, operational systems and safety arrangements. Once the tests are successfully completed, the generator of the first unit will be connected to the national power transmission grid. This process is known as synchronisation.
According to the plan, around 300 megawatts of electricity from the first unit is targeted for trial supply to the national grid in November. However, the process remains subject to fulfilment of regulatory conditions and the necessary approvals.
//DBTech/ Ranjit Kumar Shil/SMP/ MIST//
