Rooppur Nuclear Plant Unit 1 nears power generation, grid connection expected by March-April

Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant is moving closer to electricity generation, with fuel loading at Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project expected to begin in early February, according to project officials.

If the process proceeds as scheduled, trial power generation could start between early March and late April, allowing electricity to be supplied to the national grid for the first time. Officials stressed, however, that nuclear operations are highly sensitive and safety-critical, meaning the plant will not reach full capacity immediately.

Under the operational roadmap, it may take eight to ten months after physical startup to gradually ramp up output to the full 1,200 megawatts. Full commercial production from Unit 1 could be achieved by mid-2026 if no major technical issues arise.

Officials warned that any anomaly detected during fuel loading, reactor startup or trial operations could affect the timeline, noting that safety and quality assurance are being prioritised over speed throughout the commissioning process.

Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited officials said fuel loading is expected to take about one month, followed by reactor startup and water heating phases that may require another month. Trial operations will then begin in stages, during which partial electricity may be fed into the national grid.

Electricity output will be increased gradually, starting at 10%, then rising to 40%, 70% and eventually reaching full capacity. Officials cautioned that electricity generated during the trial phase may be irregular, with stable supply expected only after the completion of trial operations and formal handover of the unit.

Preparations are also underway to begin fuel loading for Unit 2 toward the end of 2026, marking the start of its production process.

A senior NPCBL official said remaining ancillary works are expected to be completed within five weeks, clearing the way for fuel loading in early February. The official added that around 30 critical tests are still pending and will be completed before a final decision is taken on moving to the next stages.

Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the Russian contractor recently indicated that fuel loading would begin soon, though an official date will be announced only after all remaining tests are completed. They reiterated that there would be no compromise on safety or quality.

Construction of the Rooppur project began in 2016 at an initial cost of Tk113,093 crore. Electricity generation from Unit 1 was originally scheduled for December 2024 and from Unit 2 for December 2025, but delays pushed back the timeline.

A proposal to increase the project cost is under process due to exchange rate adjustments and higher component prices, with the total cost expected to rise by Tk26,181.26 crore, or 23.15% above the original estimate.

According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, the plant will generate a total of 2,400 megawatts, with 1,200 megawatts from each unit. As of August 2025, financial progress stood at 73.62%, while physical progress reached 74.24%.

The project is being implemented under an agreement between Bangladesh and Russia, with Atomstroyexport contracted for construction, equipment supply, training and fuel provision. Officials cited the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and dollar shortages as key factors behind delays.

Under a revised timeline approved in June 2025, the provisional handover of Unit 2 has been extended to December 31, 2027, with overall project completion now targeted for June 2028.

IMED reports show that construction of Unit 1 is nearly complete, with most buildings finished and major machinery installation nearing completion. Key safety tests have been successfully conducted, while work on auxiliary facilities and turbine buildings is in the final stages. Construction of Unit 2 has also reached an advanced phase, with core structures largely completed and equipment installation progressing steadily.