Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), is expected to begin supplying electricity to the national grid by the end of August 2026, Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam told Parliament on Sunday. Report BSS
Responding to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Md Mostafizur Rahman Babul (Jamalpur-3), the minister said the landmark project has entered its commissioning and startup phase—the final and most critical stage before commercial electricity generation begins.
Calling RNPP a milestone in Bangladesh’s energy journey, Anam said the project represents a historic achievement for the country and will play a pivotal role in strengthening long-term energy security.
“After years of planning, construction and extensive preparatory work, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is now undergoing commissioning and startup activities, the final and most complex phase before electricity generation,” he told the House.
According to the minister, fuel loading under Stage-B (Fuel Loading and Physical Startup) of Unit-1 officially began on April 28, 2026. Since then, engineers and specialists have been carrying out a series of critical procedures, including nuclear fuel installation, boric acid addition, reactor and primary circuit testing, safety verification, and sub-criticality tests.
The next stage will involve bringing the reactor to a critical state, followed by integrated testing of the control and protection systems and low-power reactor operation to ensure all systems perform safely and efficiently.
As part of the startup process, reactor power will be increased gradually. Initially, the reactor will operate at approximately 10 to 12 percent capacity before being raised to 35 to 40 percent capacity for a range of technical assessments and performance evaluations.
The minister said the generator is expected to be synchronized with the national grid around 114 days after fuel loading began, provided all commissioning activities and safety tests are completed successfully.
Expressing confidence in the project’s progress, Anam said the plant is expected to supply around 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid for the first time by the end of August.
The 2,400-megawatt Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, located in Ishwardi, Pabna, is being built with Russian cooperation and is widely regarded as one of Bangladesh’s most significant infrastructure projects. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to diversify the country’s energy mix, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and contribute substantially to meeting growing electricity demand.
