Rooppur NPP Unit-1 gets commissioning licence for fuel loading

The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) has received the commissioning licence for fuel loading, marking a major step toward Bangladesh’s entry into nuclear power generation.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) granted the licence following comprehensive assessments by national and international regulatory bodies. BAERA Chairman Mahmudul Hasan formally handed over the licence to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr M Moinul Islam on Thursday, according to an official handout.

With the approval, fuel loading activities at Unit-1 are set to begin, with a formal inauguration expected in the last week of April. Officials said electricity generation from the unit could be connected to the national grid within approximately three months of fuel loading.

After completing phased testing and capacity-building processes, the plant is expected to operate at full capacity and supply electricity to the grid by December.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is widely regarded as a landmark project in Bangladesh’s energy sector, expected to strengthen energy security and ensure sustainable power generation.

Senior officials from the RNPP project and Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) were present during the handover ceremony.