It is getting hard to remain optimistic about things in 2026. International conflicts and tensions only seem to be rising, and nuclear plants are increasingly finding themselves drawn into them. The recent drone strike at Barakah especially has generated global headlines and sparked widespread condemnation. It may well have put a hold on further nuclear energy development in the Middle East for the time being, although one hopes not.
Attempts to update the non-proliferation treaty remain stalled as the most recent review conference ended without a consensus on either updated text or commitments. This apparently marks 16 years of stasis, so it is hardly new, but the stagnation persists at a time when the nuclear weapons states are modernising their arsenals and the total number of weapons appears to be on the rise.
The nuclear headlines at the moment all seem to involve AI, drones and war. They make for heavy reading. At least the AI nuclear connection is nominally positive, given how a lack of reliable energy seems to be the main bottleneck constraining data centre additions in many regions. This has driven an uptick in energy demand and caused the Big Tech companies to start openly supporting nuclear technology development.
And yet AI itself is hardly the most reassuring or universally loved technology of recent years. As more and more skilled people find themselves redundant due to AI, and as tech leaders keep talking about scary boogeymen like Artificial General Intelligence, the marriage with nuclear energy sometimes feels a bit uncomfortable. Stakeholder-relations experts point out that data centres are less popular than nuclear power plants in many places. It feels weird to be the more popular partner for a change.
Against this somewhat stormy outlook, the Bangladeshi nuclear energy programme is a bright spot. The programme has calmly carried on ever since the country’s leaders seriously embraced the energy source back in 2001. Construction agreements were signed with Rosatom in 2015, and first concrete was poured back in November 2017.
While recognising the need for speedy nuclear infrastructure development generally, the nine-year time frame for Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project actually seems reasonable given how it had to endure the COVID pandemic, a major currency devaluation (which increased the price), and the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. One is reminded that nuclear infrastructure development happens in a wider context and many factors are outside of industry’s ability to control.
Perseverance is vital and the Bangladeshi political leaders are to be commended for holding course. Hats must also be tipped to Rosatom for delivering this project through these challenging conditions – again demonstrating the Russian nuclear sector’s prowess at bringing new countries into the nuclear fold.
Put simply, the successful construction of Rooppur nuclear plant is a big deal. When operational, the twin unit VVER 1200 facility will generate 2400 MW and is expected to provide about 10% of the country’s annual electricity generation. It should help to end load shedding and lessen dependence on imported fossil fuels. This clean reliable supply will underpin continued economic development in the country, which has been progressing at a rapid clip – with an expected 5% GDP increase on the cards for 2026.
Indeed, the country has done an outstanding job of lifting its people out of poverty. So much so that it is scheduled to transition out of the UN Least Developed Country (LDC ) grouping on 24 November 2026. Symbolically enough, the various start up milestones of the Rooppur nuclear plant will likely coincide with this nation-transforming event.
It is wonderful that an LDC has successfully managed a nuclear power programme and it clearly demonstrates that nuclear energy does not have to be ‘rich-world’ technology. Other countries might also consider introducing it a bit earlier as part of their development journeys. Nuclear power should not be seen as a scientific and institutional endpoint, so much as a steppingstone – a key piece of enabling infrastructure that further industrialisation and technological progress can be built upon.
Bangladesh has a population of 180 million people and this is growing. It is currently the 8th most populous country in the world. Six of the top 10 most populous nations already have nuclear power already, while the remaining four are intent on joining them. Bangladesh has now beaten Nigeria (population ~240 million), Indonesia (population ~290 million) and Ethiopia (population ~140 million) in joining the nuclear energy club. The country may well begin its second nuclear power project before these countries begin constructing their first. Indeed, Bangladesh is actively considering whether to build further units. It is discussing two more at Rooppur and, an additional nuclear power plant at a new site. It may also bring in another vendor for this new plant diversifying its technology partners. The future of nuclear energy development in Bangladesh is going to be exciting to watch.
Perhaps Ethiopia, another LDC, could seek to learn from Bangladesh and copy their example. Or perhaps they already are. Media headlines suggest that Rosatom has already identified the opportunity here and is in discussion with Ethiopian authorities, although details are a bit hazy at the moment. Maybe it is not too late for other nuclear companies and countries to become involved.
It is simple yet undeniable arithmetic that as the world evolves and these large population centres strive to reach first world standards they will become the major energy growth markets in coming years. If they don’t then something is deeply wrong, and we should all lament the ongoing failures in the global economic system and efforts to eradicate energy inequity.
Every newcomer country that makes it all the way through to starting up their first nuclear power plant deserves to be celebrated. The countries and companies which help them get there deserve to be applauded. It is that simple. Too bad that more Western companies do not feature on this list.
Only 31 countries have nuclear energy at the moment. Somewhat depressingly, this number has stayed more or less constant in recent years as the newcomers – UAE and Belarus – have been balanced out by those completing phase outs – Germany and Taiwan. Every additional country to join the nuclear energy club has a countable impact. It is a sign of brighter days ahead for the nuclear industry that the number should only grow as there are no more phase outs on the horizon which look in serious danger of completing aside from maybe Spain – but let’s stay optimistic.
There are 195 recognised countries in the world, and a few more unrecognised ones besides that. A social and environmental case can be made that all of them deserve to benefit from nuclear energy, although on a practical level the technology is not always a good fit. The emergence of SMRs and microreactors will hopefully change that. And it could well be that we see an acceleration in nuclear-club memberships in the next 10 years. The progressive globalisation and normalisation of nuclear energy is set to continue. For now, it is a comforting thought that these 31 countries – soon to be 32 – does cover most of the world’s population.
And as for Bangladesh, may nuclear energy serve it well. Hopefully its economic growth will continue and it will go on to eventually support or at least inspire the nuclear journeys of its neighbours and other aspiring countries.
