Rooppur on the verge of generation: tests complete, power start-up awaits regulator's final approval, 300 MW to grid hoped by year-end

Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, Rooppur, is now on the verge of starting generation. As soon as the regulator gives its final approval, the plant's first unit will enter Stage C aimed at power start-up. Sources say preparations are under way to begin power start-up activities around 25 October.

All necessary work for Unit 1, including the B-2 stage physics tests, has been completed successfully. The test reports have already been submitted to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA). All that remains is the regulator's final approval.

Meanwhile, a high-level Russian delegation met Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam on Thursday night (22 October). They briefed the minister on the first critical stage of Rooppur's first unit and the project's overall progress. The Russian embassy disclosed the information in a statement and a Facebook post on Friday (23 October).

According to the statement, a delegation led by Andrey Petrov, First Deputy Director General of Rosatom and President of Atomstroyexport (ASE), visited Bangladesh from 20 to 23 October to inspect progress at the Rooppur plant. Several important meetings were held during the visit.

On Thursday (22 October), the Russian state corporation held a high-level meeting with the science and technology minister in Dhaka. Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain and top officials of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and operating company NPCBL also took part. Both sides discussed construction and project progress and set out joint steps for the near future.

Dr Md Zahedul Hasan, managing director of Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), said all tests and activities of the B-2 stage had been completed successfully, including Unit 1's B-2 physics tests. The test report was submitted to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority on Wednesday, he said.

He added that the high-level Russian delegation had briefed the ministry on the progress of Unit 1's critical stage. Once the regulator's approval is received, the unit will enter Stage C and move towards power start-up.

Zahedul Hasan said generation would initially begin on a limited scale and be increased gradually as the process advances successfully. Project officials hope that once generation reaches 30 to 35 percent, the electricity can be supplied to the national grid.

Project sources say power start-up at Rooppur is expected to begin towards the end of this month, on 25 October. The schedule, however, depends entirely on the regulator's final approval. Once it comes, a completely new chapter in the country's power sector will begin — electricity generated from nuclear fuel for the first time.

It is expected that by the end of this year at least 300 megawatts of electricity will start flowing from Rooppur to the national grid. Officials caution, however, that this depends on successfully completing each stage before moving to the next.

For a nuclear power plant, safety verification at every stage is paramount. Only if the regulator is satisfied after reviewing the physics test reports will permission for the next stage follow. That is why officials are not committing to an exact timetable.

If all goes well, power start-up at Rooppur will begin within days. Generation will then rise step by step, and by year-end Rooppur's electricity will join the national grid — a milestone for the country's energy security. All eyes are now on BAERA's final approval.