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The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has entered the final stage of commissioning, with Unit 1 undergoing post-fuel-loading tests and system verification, according to reports in several news portals and newspapers.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) must review and approve the results of the required tests before the unit can begin generating electricity.
Fuel loading at Unit 1 began on April 28, 2026, and all 163 fuel assemblies were sequentially loaded into the reactor core by May 12. The project subsequently moved into further testing, instrumentation and system-verification stages.
Earlier, BAERA issued the commissioning licence required for fuel loading at Unit 1 following assessments and reviews by national and international regulatory bodies.
Bangladesh Post reported that more than 100 tests had already been completed, while several complex and sensitive tests were continuing.
A September 1 report by Jago News said discussions were underway over starting trial operations at Rooppur, with the plant expected to move towards full-scale generation the following year.
Commissioning process
The Rooppur project consists of two VVER-1200 units with a combined installed capacity of 2,400MW.
Following fuel loading, the commissioning process involves bringing the reactor to its minimum controllable power level, gradually increasing power and conducting extensive tests of the reactor and other plant systems.
Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam told parliament that the project had entered the commissioning and startup phase.
He said Stage-B activities for Unit 1 included fuel loading and physical startup, along with reactor and primary-circuit testing, safety verification and sub-criticality testing.
Before commercial operation, the plant will have to complete the required commissioning procedures and obtain regulatory approval based on the test results.
Grid readiness
The plant’s transmission infrastructure is also being prepared for grid-connected operation.
A contract was signed on September 2 between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and GE Vernova to integrate critical information and signals from Rooppur’s transmission system into the National Load Dispatch Centre’s SCADA/EMS platform.
Under the agreement, data and designated critical signals from eight transmission lines associated with Units 1 and 2, as well as the plant’s 400kV and 230kV gas-insulated switchgear substations, will be integrated into the national grid control system.
The integration will enable grid operators to monitor key information from Rooppur’s transmission infrastructure as the plant moves towards supplying electricity to the national grid.
Coordinated readiness of the reactor, transmission infrastructure, protection systems, control centres and communications networks will be essential for the safe and reliable introduction of Bangladesh’s first nuclear-generated electricity.
