The fuel loading process in the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Ishwardi, Pabna, will be inaugurated on Tuesday (April 28). Fuel loading is one of the most important stages in starting electricity production from the project. After completion of fuel loading, there is a possibility of supplying electricity to the national grid on a trial basis within the next three months.

The inauguration ceremony of the fuel loading activity at Unit-1 of the power plant will begin at 2:30 pm. The event will be presided over by Fakir Mahbub Anam, Minister of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Science and Technology. The chief guest at the ceremony was Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Ministry. Recorded remarks will be delivered by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Md Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the ministry, delivered the welcome speech.

According to the project plan, trial electricity generation from the first unit may begin within three months after fuel loading. Initially, around 300 megawatts of electricity will be supplied to the national grid. Production will then be gradually increased, with a target of reaching full capacity by January 2027.

Dr Zahedul Hasan, Managing Director of Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Limited, said that maintaining safety and technical standards in accordance with international guidelines was the biggest challenge. However, overcoming all obstacles, Unit-1 of Rooppur is now fully ready for fuel loading. He added that 59 Bangladeshi experts have already obtained operating licenses after passing rigorous international-standard examinations to carry out the operation.

The power plant is being constructed on the banks of the Padma River in Ishwardi at a cost of around 12.65 billion US dollars. The plant aims to generate a total of 2,400 megawatts of electricity from two units.