Rosatom starts first nuclear plant in Bangladesh fuel load

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On April 28, 2026, the key stage of commissioning began at Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh with the start of fresh nuclear fuel loading. The project is being implemented by the Engineering Division of the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which serves as the general contractor and designer of the plant.

The ceremony was attended by Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev and Bangladesh’s Minister of Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam, who symbolically authorized the start of fuel loading into the reactor.

According to the technological procedure, 163 fuel assemblies will be loaded into the reactor core. After completion, the reactor will be brought to a minimum controllable power level to ensure stable and regulated operation.

The next stage will involve a gradual increase in power, followed by full commissioning and delivery of electricity to Bangladesh’s national power grid.

Alexey Likhachev stated that the implementation of the Rooppur project demonstrates Bangladesh’s entry into the group of countries using peaceful nuclear energy for sustainable development and contributes to strengthening international cooperation in nuclear energy.

Fakir Mahbub Anam noted that the project will play an important role in ensuring the country’s energy security, accelerating industrialization, and supporting economic development based on modern technologies.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, located 160 kilometers from the capital Dhaka, is being constructed under a general contract signed on December 25, 2015. The plant includes two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW.

The VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactors are considered among the most advanced and safe technologies in compliance with international standards. Similar units are currently operating in Russia and Belarus, while projects using this technology are being implemented in countries including Egypt, Hungary, Türkiye, and China.

The Rooppur project reflects a consistent policy of expanding international cooperation and strengthening export potential in high-tech industries.