The long-awaited fuel loading at Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, in Pabna is scheduled to take place on 28 April, marking the formal start of its operational phase.
Electricity from the plant is expected to be connected to the national grid on a trial basis by late July or early August.
Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that the start of fuel loading will initiate the plant’s power generation process.
The move follows the issuance of a commissioning licence for the first unit by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority on 16 April.
Md Anwar Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said testing will continue during the fuel loading phase, with all procedures to be completed before supplying electricity to the grid. Initially, around 300 megawatts of power is expected to be added, while full production capacity is likely by the end of this year or early next year.
Due to time constraints, neither Bangladesh’s prime minister nor Russia’s president will attend the inauguration.
However, Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam and senior Russian representatives are expected to formally launch the programme.
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) Chairman Mahmudul Hasan said earlier delays were caused by technical issues, which have now been resolved, paving the way for fuel loading.
Managing Director of the state-owned Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) Zahedul Hassan said 52 local experts have obtained licences to operate the plant after successfully passing written, oral, and simulation examinations. They will jointly operate the facility with Russian specialists.
Following fuel loading, several phases of testing will be conducted before preparing a final safety analysis report.
Trial electricity generation is expected within three months, with output increasing by 10-15 percent monthly.
Achieving full capacity of 1,200 megawatts from the first unit may take 8 to 10 months after physical startup.
Preparations are also underway to begin fuel loading for the second unit later this year.
As preparations continue, authorities have stepped up public engagement efforts ahead of the start of fuel loading at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, with a community meeting held on 23 April in nearby Char Sahapur.
The programme, organised by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, aimed to enhance local participation, raise awareness, and facilitate direct interaction with residents living close to the project site.
During the meeting, officials presented key information on the plant’s safety measures, environmental impact, technical features, and its broader socio-economic significance in simple and accessible terms. Local residents actively took part in the discussion.
Project Director Md Kabir Hossain emphasised that community involvement is crucial for the success of a large national project. He urged residents to avoid rumours and unverified information, advising them to rely on official sources, including project authorities, information centres, and the verified Facebook page “Nuclear Power in Bangladesh.”
The $12.65 billion project, built with Russian financial and technical support on the banks of the Padma River in Ishwardi, uses two VVER-1200 reactors. Once fully operational, the plant will generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity, meeting more than 10% of Bangladesh’s total power demand.
