Nuclear Patience

Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has entered its final phase but faces another delay, with fuel loading for Unit 1 postponed due to pending technical and regulatory clearances.

- Mollah Amzad Hossain

Bangladesh’s long-awaited entry into the nuclear power era has encountered yet another setback. Fuel loading for the first 1,200 MW unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), the country’s largest and most technologically complex development project, will not take place on December 25 as previously scheduled, according to project authorities. The delay underscores the intricate technical, regulatory, and geopolitical challenges facing the project as it nears its final stages.

Officials say that a series of final technical and safety verification processes remains incomplete, preventing fuel loading at this time. While the milestone was expected to mark a decisive step toward power generation, authorities have refrained from announcing a revised timeline, stating that a new date will be formally declared once all regulatory requirements are satisfied.

Although the postponement is disappointing, experts emphasize that delays at this stage are not unusual for nuclear projects, where safety, security, and international oversight take precedence over rigid timelines. With most construction work completed and commissioning activities well underway, Rooppur is now moving cautiously toward a milestone that will define Bangladesh’s energy future for decades.

Bangladesh's Largest Single Investment Project

The RNPP is Bangladesh’s largest single investment project, with an estimated cost of USD 12.65 billion. The majority of the financing has been provided through loans from the Russian Federation. Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom, is implementing the project on a turnkey basis, covering technology supply, construction, and human resource development.