Rooppur Unit 1 Cleared for First Nuclear Reaction

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) on Thursday granted final approval to begin the first controlled nuclear reaction at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), marking a major step toward the country’s first nuclear electricity generation.

Known as “first criticality,” the process is a key stage before a nuclear reactor can begin producing electricity. BAERA Chairman Mahmudul Hasan confirmed the approval to BSS, saying two more regulatory approvals would be required before the unit could be connected to the national grid.

The approval had been delayed over technical complications involving the automatic pressure relief safety valves (PORV/POSV) at Unit-1, project officials said. A team of Russian experts came to Bangladesh and resolved the issue through a series of technical measures. The safety valves subsequently passed required tests successfully.

With the issue resolved, officials said Unit-1 could potentially supply electricity to the national grid on a trial basis by the end of December.

Nuclear fuel loading, or the “physical startup” of Unit-1, officially began on April 28. Meanwhile, the first shipment of nuclear fuel for Unit-2 arrived at Rooppur on October 3.

Located in Pabna, Rooppur is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant and is being built with financial and technical assistance from Russia. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission is implementing the project under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Under the project, Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, is constructing two 1,200MW reactor units as the contractor.