Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent
Nuclear fuel for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, will start arriving from Russia in October, with the deliveries expected to be completed by December.
Russia’s state-run nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, the main contractor of the Rooppur project, disclosed the information in a press release on Tuesday.
According to the release, the fuel will be sent to Bangladesh by special cargo aircraft in several phases, in line with the project agreement and scheduled timeline. The supply process will begin in October and be completed by the end of December.
The first consignment of uranium fuel for the second unit was scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh last week. However, the flight was delayed due to complications over airspace clearance. Russia is now preparing to send the fuel from October through an alternative route.
Earlier, seven consignments of uranium fuel for the first unit arrived from Russia between September and November 2023. The formal ‘graduation’ of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was completed with the handover of the nuclear fuel at the time. Another seven consignments are expected to arrive for the second unit.
According to project officials, the consignments will arrive in phases between October and December. A total of 163 fuel assemblies will be delivered in the seven consignments.
Special arrangements are made in accordance with international safety regulations to minimise risks during the transportation of nuclear fuel. The fuel from Russia first arrives at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka by special cargo aircraft and is then transported by road to the Rooppur project under tight security provided by the army and other law enforcement agencies.
Built with Russian financial and technical assistance, Rooppur is the country’s first nuclear power plant. It has two VVER-1200 units, each with a generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts. Once both units become operational, a total of 2,400MW will be added to the national grid.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Project is being implemented with 90 per cent of the project cost covered by a Russian loan. Rosatom’s engineering division is responsible for construction as the project’s main designer and principal contractor. #EK
