Rosatom Begins Fuel Loading for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Reactor in Bangladesh
Russia’s state-owned nuclear company, Rosatom, has begun loading fuel into the first reactor unit at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) in Bangladesh on Tuesday.
The nuclear fuel loading has commenced for the first power unit at Rooppur PLTN (the general contractor and general designer is Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation’s Engineering Division). This phase is the first in the framework of the main commissioning stage of the power unit,” according to a Rosatom statement.
The nuclear fuel loading event was attended by Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev and Bangladesh’s Minister of Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam, who symbolically granted permission to begin fuelling the Rooppur PLTN reactor.
A total of 163 nuclear fuel assemblies will be placed into the reactor core. Subsequently, the reactor will be brought to the minimum controlled power level before gradually increasing the plant’s power output. The electricity generated will then be transmitted to Bangladesh’s power grid.
CEO Likhachev stated that Bangladesh has now joined the group of countries using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to advance sustainable development.
“Rooppur PLTN will undoubtedly become the most important element of Bangladesh’s energy system. For Rosatom, this project is an important step in developing peaceful nuclear power and strengthening friendly relations with our foreign partners. We are pleased to participate in the construction of a modern and reliable PLTN together with our Bangladeshi friends, and we can see prospects for further cooperation,” Likhachev explained.
Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi congratulated Bangladesh and Rosatom on this achievement.
Grossi said the cooperation opens a new chapter for Bangladesh, and clean energy will support economic growth in the South Asian country.
The IAEA has supported Bangladesh’s nuclear programme from the beginning, Grossi stated. During the pre-operational review in August 2025 and advisory measures, the IAEA ensured that the construction of Rooppur PLTN was carried out in accordance with the highest safety standards.
Bangladesh’s first PLTN, equipped with two VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of 2,400 MW, is being built approximately 99 miles from the capital Dhaka, based on a general contract dated 25 December 2015.