The fifth consignment of uranium from Russia for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has arrived at the project site in Pabna.
With this, a total of six shipments reached the site, including one additional consignment of uranium for the first unit and five for the second unit.
Rooppur plant project site in-charge, Ruhul Quddus, confirmed the development.
Three specialised trucks carrying the uranium arrived at the Rooppur project site around 6am on Saturday under army supervision and stringent security measures provided by other law enforcement agencies.
Earlier, Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced plans to deliver 163 uranium fuel assemblies for the second unit to Bangladesh through seven cargo flights. In addition, 48 uranium assemblies intended for refuelling the first unit are scheduled to arrive in two separate cargo shipments.
A total of nine consignments of nuclear fuel are expected to be delivered under the plan.
Constructed with Russian technology, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant consists of two VVER-1200 reactor units. The first unit has already entered the “Power Startup Stage-C” process.
On 29 October, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) approved the commencement of Stage-C activities for the plant’s first unit.
During this phase, reactor power will be increased gradually to assess the performance of key equipment, including the turbine-generator, operational systems and safety mechanisms.
Upon successful completion of the required tests, the generator of the first unit will be connected to the national power transmission grid through a process known as synchronisation.
Subject to regulatory approval and compliance with all conditions, the first unit is expected to supply around 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid on a trial basis in November.
