Unit 1 of Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Approved to Initiate Nuclear Fission Reaction

Recently, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) issued a final license to Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (Rooppur NPP) located in Ishwardi, Pabna, allowing it to initiate a controlled nuclear fission reaction. This is a key step for the 1,200-megawatt reactor toward commissioning. Saikat·Ahmed, project focal point of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, told New Age that the license will allow the reactor to reach the B2 stage and achieve first criticality. First criticality refers to the initiation of a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, thereby generating heat for power generation.

It is understood that Unit 1 is expected to conduct trial production at 300 megawatts before December, and this may last six to seven months. Before obtaining BAERA's nuclear fission license, the unit had passed multiple high-pressure tests of the power-operated relief valve, including 18 MPa and 16 MPa tests. Earlier this week, a convoy carrying uranium arrived at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant under tight security. Nuclear power plant officials told New Age that the convoy arrived at the site at about 12:20 on October 3.

It is reported that a total of nine batches of nuclear fuel will be transported into Bangladesh, of which seven batches are for Unit 2 currently under construction, and two batches are for refueling Unit 1. Rosatom stated in a statement on September 28 that nuclear fuel deliveries are planned to begin in October and continue until December, and will be transported in multiple flights in accordance with contract terms and project progress. According to the fuel supply plan, nine cargo flights will deliver to Bangladesh an additional 48 uranium assemblies for Unit 1 and 163 uranium assemblies for Unit 2 before December.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project is valued at more than 12 billion US dollars. It is Bangladesh's first nuclear power project, implemented by the country's Ministry of Science and Technology, with technical and financial assistance from Russia. It is understood that the approval for Unit 1 to initiate a nuclear fission reaction means the project has entered a key commissioning stage before first criticality, laying the foundation for subsequent grid connection and commercial operation, and also marking that Bangladesh has officially entered the threshold of nuclear power generation.