Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Fuel Loading Begins Today

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Fuel Loading Begins, Bangladesh Enters Nuclear Era

Ishwardi, Pabna | April 28, 2026 | Living Arcade

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading began today, April 28, 2026, at the first unit of Bangladesh’s first-ever nuclear facility in Ishwardi, Pabna. The event marks the single most important energy milestone in Bangladesh’s history since independence. Bangladesh has formally entered the nuclear power era with the start of fuel loading at Unit 1, a milestone that sets the stage for the country’s first nuclear-generated electricity to reach the national grid in the coming months.

Bangladesh has become the 33rd country in the world to generate electricity using nuclear energy and the third South Asian nation to do so, after India and Pakistan. A dream that began in 1961 is finally becoming real today in a field in Pabna.

Fuel Loading Begins at Unit 1: What Happened Today

The uranium loading at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant began after 3:30pm on April 28, 2026. The ceremony was chaired by Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, who gave symbolic permission to load nuclear fuel into the first power unit.

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s Rosatom state nuclear corporation, also attended the ceremony. Rosatom confirmed that 163 fuel assemblies will be loaded into the reactor core as part of this first stage of the unit’s key startup phase.

The process is being carried out under strict safety protocols, with trained Bangladeshi operators working alongside experts from Rosatom. During loading, the reactor vessel remains filled with water to help shield radiation. Each assembly holds a predetermined position within the core, as the configuration directly affects reactor performance and safety.

The authorities confirmed they need 21 to 30 days to complete the full fuel loading process. Once loading finishes, the reactor core moves into its startup phase and power generation begins in controlled stages.

When Bangladesh Gets Its First Nuclear Electricity

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading process leads directly to electricity generation in a series of carefully managed steps.

After fuel loading, the reactor will be brought to its minimum controlled level. This is a stable, manageable power level. A gradual ramp-up then begins. The next stage is the power startup phase, when the generated electricity will begin to enter the Bangladesh power grid.

Reactor power will increase gradually in stages: 3, 5, 10, 20, and then 30 percent capacity. This phase may take an additional 40 days. Once 30 percent capacity is reached, electricity can flow to the national grid.

After completion of fuel loading and the necessary technical processes, 300 megawatts of electricity will be commercially generated from the first unit by the end of July or the first days of August 2026.

The government aims to supply 1,000 megawatts to the national grid from Rooppur by the end of the year, gradually increasing to full capacity.

What the Rooppur Plant Will Deliver for Bangladesh

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading event is not just a ceremony. It is the beginning of a permanent shift in how Bangladesh powers its economy and homes.

The Rooppur plant consists of two units with a combined generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts. Each unit produces 1,200 megawatts using Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor technology, which uses both active and passive safety systems, multiple layers of protection, and a core catcher.

Once fully operational, the plant is expected to meet 10 to 12 percent of Bangladesh’s total electricity demand. Officials at the Ministry of Science and Technology say the electricity price from Rooppur will be lower than coal-generated power.

Bangladesh currently has a shortfall of around 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts between demand and supply. Rural areas across the country lose power for up to 10 hours a day. Rooppur electricity will close a meaningful part of that gap by August.

To transmit the electricity, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh has built five new grid lines. Three lines spanning 370 kilometres from Rooppur to Gopalganj, Bogura, and Baghabari are already complete. The lines have failovers and are ready to transmit power.

The Technology Behind Unit 1

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading uses uranium, not coal or gas.

Instead of fossil fuels, nuclear plants use small uranium pellets weighing about 4.5 to 5 grams each. These pellets sit inside zirconium alloy tubes that form fuel rods. Those rods bundle together into fuel assemblies. The system at Unit 1 has already been tested using dummy assemblies to confirm operational readiness.

Russia’s TVEL Fuel Company is supplying the nuclear fuel. Russia has agreed to take back the spent fuel using its own technology. This arrangement keeps Bangladesh free from the challenge of managing nuclear waste independently.

The plant uses the VVER-1200 reactor design, regarded as one of the most advanced civilian nuclear designs in the world today.

Built in line with post-Fukushima safety standards, the plant features passive safety systems and self-cooling for 72 hours without human intervention. It has a core catcher, a safety vessel designed to contain molten fuel in the unlikely event of a core meltdown. It also has double-containment reinforced concrete layers to prevent radiation leaks and protect against external impacts.

Bangladesh’s People Behind the Plant

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading is also a story of human achievement.

Between 2018 and 2023, around 1,800 personnel were recruited to work at Rooppur. Of those, 1,100 received training in both Bangladesh and Russia. Currently, about 5,000 Russian specialists and 20,000 Bangladeshi workers are involved in the project. Experts from India and Belarus are also on site.

A total of 59 Bangladeshi specialists have already obtained operating licences after passing rigorous international assessments. Responsibility for running the plant will transfer gradually to Bangladeshi experts over the next three years.

Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said at the ceremony, “Nuclear energy will meet the growing electricity demand driven by our industrial development.”

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev added at the event, “Today Bangladesh has joined the group of nations that use peaceful nuclear energy as a reliable source of sustainable development. Undoubtedly, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will become a key element of the country’s energy system.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi also congratulated Bangladesh and Rosatom on the first fuel loading at Rooppur.

A Project 65 Years in the Making

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading did not happen overnight. The plan to establish a nuclear power plant in what was then East Pakistan was made in 1961. After independence, the dream lived on through decades of feasibility studies, political changes, and economic constraints.

The project, estimated to cost $12.65 billion, is being constructed with Russian economic and technical assistance under a general contract signed in December 2015.

After overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and a range of global crises, Bangladesh is finally embarking on its historic journey into nuclear power generation. The fact that fuel loading began at all today is a statement about national resilience.

What Comes After Fuel Loading

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading opens a clear timeline for what follows.

Unit 1 will reach 300 megawatts of commercial power output by the end of July or early August 2026. Full capacity at Unit 1 is expected by December 2026 or early 2027. Rosatom CEO Likhachev confirmed that the corporation plans to begin commissioning the second power unit in 2027. Once both units run at full capacity, Rooppur will generate 2,400 megawatts, enough to power millions of homes and factories across Bangladesh.

Likhachev also said Bangladesh expressed interest in other Rosatom proposals, including small nuclear power plants and floating nuclear power plants. Bangladesh’s nuclear future may extend well beyond Rooppur.

Living Arcade covers Bangladesh’s energy crisis, infrastructure development, and all major national milestones. Read our Bangladesh Energy section for full coverage of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant timeline and our Bangladesh News section for today’s top stories.