The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) has granted regulatory clearance for unit 1 of the Rooppur NPP to advance to Stage C, initiating the power startup process.
Following successful physical tests in the preceding B-2 stage, the reactor is transitioning from a self-sustaining fission reaction (achieved on 11 October) to a phase where heat is progressively increased. Reactor pressure will start at 1-5% capacity to generate steam in the secondary circuit, drive the turbines, and test stability. Authorities project that trial electricity could be supplied to the national grid by December 2026.
During Stage C, reactor power will be increased gradually to produce steam, drive the turbine and generate electricity. Generation capacity will be raised in stages, with BAERA monitoring the process to ensure safe operation.
Dr Zahedul Hasan, Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company of Bangladesh Ltd (NPCBL), said the unit would undergo systematic operational testing after power startup to demonstrate its safety, stability and reliability before regular electricity generation. A key milestone would be synchronising the generator with the national grid and ensuring stable electricity supply, he added. Successful completion of Stage C would allow the unit to advance to the Pilot Operation stage, subject to satisfactory test results and regulatory and commissioning requirements.
The Rooppur plant is being built by Rosatom on the eastern bank of the Ganges River in the Pabna district of Bangladesh, about 160 km northwest of Dhaka. It will comprise two VVER-1200 reactors. In November 2011, Russia and Bangladesh signed an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the NPP, and in mid-December 2015 a general contract worth $12.65bn was signed. Construction of unit 1 began in November 2017 and unit 2 in July 2018.
The plant’s design life is 60 years, with the possibility of extending its operating life for another 20 years. Unit 1 is expected to become fully operational in 2027, with Unit 2 scheduled to follow in 2028. Once fully functional, the facility is designed to meet roughly 11% of Bangladesh’s electricity demand, greatly reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.
