Fuel Loading Begins at Bangladesh's First Nuclear Power Plant

The beginning of fuel loading at the first unit of the Russian-build Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has paved the way for the start of experimental production of nuclear energy in Bangladesh. Reporting from Rooppur, RT India correspondent Rujuta Thete notes that the nuclear power plant will supply 10% of national needs once it becomes fully operational. Fuel loading at the first unit is expected to be completed within the next 45 days, officials said. After that, the reactor will be brought to a minimum controlled power level, followed by a gradual increase in output. Electricity will then be generated on a trial basis and fed into the national grid. With a planned capacity of 2,400 megawatts across two reactors, the facility will add Bangladesh to the list of more than 30 nations operating nuclear power reactors, Rosatom noted in a statement. The estimated project cost is about $13 billion, with Russia providing a state loan covering 90% of that amount. The Russian side has also undertaken long‑term obligations for nuclear fuel supply, technical maintenance, and management of spent nuclear fuel. Bangladesh's Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said that the plant's first reactor is expected to begin commercial operation in August, with an initial supply of about 300 megawatts. Full‑scale production is expected by December this year or early 2027. The project is seen as a potential game‑changer for a country facing a severe energy crisis amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Bangladesh heavily relies on energy imports for its electricity and industrial needs, sourcing roughly 95% of its oil and gas from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Iraq. India is also a major electricity supplier, providing around 15-17% of Bangladesh's power through grid connections and supplying diesel via pipeline.