| HEADLINE |
|
Uranium shipment arrives at Rooppur plant
Published : Tuesday, 27 October, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Observer Online Report
A 41-tonne shipment of nuclear fuel for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived at the project site in Ishwardi of Pabna under tight security on Tuesday morning.
The convoy carrying the fuel entered the plant premises around 8:00 AM escorted by the army.
The fuel was flown from Russia to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka via New Delhi on Monday morning. The shipment comprised 41 tonnes of nuclear fuel packed in 12 transport packages, according to project-related sources.
Three trucks carrying the fuel left the airport early Tuesday and travelled to Rooppur via the Bangabandhu Bridge, Bonpara in Natore and Dashuria in Ishwardi, Pabna. Police personnel were deployed at several points along the highway, while the army, SRB and intelligence agencies provided security.
Police and project officials said, the fuel was transported by road from Dhaka under special security arrangements. Heavy vehicles were temporarily restricted from using parts of the highway to avoid traffic congestion during the operation.
According to sources, a total of 163 uranium assemblies in seven consignments are scheduled to be brought into the country for the plant’s second unit. Another 48 assemblies in two consignments are expected for refuelling the first unit. Tuesday’s shipment was the third consignment for the second unit.
A further seven flights carrying uranium from Russia are expected to arrive in November and December, travelling through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has said the entire fuel supply process will be completed by December.
The first shipment of nuclear fuel for Rooppur’s first unit arrived in Bangladesh on September 29, 2023. Four more consignments were transported to the plant in October and November that year. Fuel loading into the first unit’s reactor was completed in May this year.
The first unit will require the replacement of around one-fourth of its fuel after approximately 18 months of operation. An additional fuel consignment for the first unit arrived at Rooppur on October 3, while the second consignment for the second unit reached the site on October 21.
Under the agreement, Russia will supply nuclear fuel for the first three years. Bangladesh will then have to import fuel at scheduled intervals for replacement.
The two units of the Rooppur plant have a combined generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts.
Although fuel loading in the first unit has been completed, electricity generation has been delayed due to technical complications. The unit was initially expected to begin generating power this month, but a fault in an automatic pressure-relief safety valve prevented the planned schedule from being maintained.
The valve’s third test was completed on September 30. Following regulatory approval, project officials initiated the nuclear reaction on October 11.
Project sources said the first unit successfully completed the required tests and activities under the B-2 phase of physics testing this week. The reports have been submitted to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).
The unit will move to Stage C, or power startup, after receiving final regulatory approval. During this stage, a series of tests will be conducted to verify the performance of the plant’s various systems.
-MT
Loading...
Loading...
Also read
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
