Bangladesh is set to reach a major energy milestone as Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant moves closer to electricity generation from its first unit.
Officials involved with the project said fuel loading at Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project is likely to begin in early February, once all remaining technical inspections and safety checks are completed. If the process proceeds according to plan, trial electricity generation could start between early March and late April, allowing limited power to be supplied to the national grid for the first time.
Despite the progress, authorities emphasized that nuclear power operations are highly sensitive, and the plant will not immediately operate at full capacity. Safety and quality assurance will continue to guide every phase of commissioning.
Fuel loading and phased power generation
According to officials of Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), fuel loading is expected to take around one month. This will be followed by reactor startup and water heating, which may require another month to complete.
After these stages, trial operations will begin gradually. Electricity output will be increased in phases, starting at 10 percent capacity, then rising to 40 percent, 70 percent, and eventually reaching 100 percent.
Project officials said it could take eight to ten months after physical startup to reach the full 1,200 megawatts capacity of Unit 1. If all technical stages progress smoothly, full commercial production may begin by mid-2026.
Electricity generated during the trial phase may not be consistent, they noted, adding that stable supply is expected only after the completion of trial operations and formal handover of the unit.
30 key tests still pending
A senior NPCBL official at the Rooppur project site said around 30 critical tests are still pending before fuel loading can begin. Once these tests are completed, each system will undergo detailed inspections.
“If any deviation or fault is detected, corrective measures will be taken and the tests will be repeated,” the official said, adding that no final decision on fuel loading will be made until all safety requirements are fully met.
No compromise on safety
Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the newly appointed Russian contractor recently informed them that fuel loading at Unit 1 would begin soon, though an official date will be announced only after all remaining tests are completed.
They reiterated that there would be no compromise on safety or quality, stressing that precise and secure implementation is being prioritized over strict timelines.
The Rooppur project is being implemented under an intergovernmental agreement between Bangladesh and Russia. In December 2015, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission signed a contract with Russia’s Atomstroyexport for the construction of two nuclear units, including equipment supply, fuel provision, and training.
Delays, cost increase, and overall progress
Construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project began in 2016 at an initial cost of Tk113,093 crore. The original plan targeted electricity generation from Unit 1 by December 2024 and from Unit 2 by December 2025. These deadlines were missed due to implementation delays linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia–Ukraine war, and dollar shortages.
A proposal to revise the project cost is now under process. Planning Commission sources said the total cost is expected to rise by Tk26,181.26 crore, a 23.15 percent increase from the original estimate, mainly due to exchange rate adjustments and higher component costs.
According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), the project will eventually generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity, with 1,200 megawatts from each unit. As of August 2025, financial progress stood at 73.62 percent, while physical progress reached 74.24 percent.
IMED reports show that construction of Unit 1 is almost complete, with most buildings finished and major machinery installation nearing completion. Work on Unit 2 has also reached an advanced stage, with electricity generation expected about a year after Unit 1 begins operation.
If all remaining tests are completed successfully, Rooppur Unit 1 will mark a historic step for Bangladesh by delivering nuclear-generated electricity to the national grid for the first time.
