Bangladesh
Fresh Russian nuclear fuel reaches Rooppur as testing continues
A fresh shipment of Russian nuclear fuel reached Rooppur on 21 October under tight security. Further deliveries are planned for the second reactor and refuelling of the first. Officials expect the first unit to supply electricity in November, subject to remaining tests; commercial generation has not been confirmed.
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From 22 October 2026 — Daily Brief
22 OCT 2026 · 4/25
A new shipment of Russian nuclear fuel reached the Rooppur power plant in Pabna on 21 October, while preparations continued for the project's first electricity supply to the national grid.
The fuel arrived at Dhaka airport on a special flight the previous night. A convoy transported it to the plant in Ishwardi, reaching the site shortly after 10am under army and police security.
Project officials said the deliveries cover fuel for the second reactor and future refuelling of the first. Seven consignments containing 163 fuel assemblies are planned for the second unit, alongside two consignments containing 48 assemblies for the first. The delivery programme is expected to finish in December.
Rooppur comprises two reactors with a combined planned capacity of 2,400 megawatts. Fuel has already been loaded into the first unit, but its electricity-generation timetable has been delayed by technical problems and testing.
Project site in-charge Ruhul Quddus said specialists had begun initial reactor start-up stages after a safety valve passed testing. Officials expect the first unit to supply the grid in November, subject to the remaining tests and preparations.
The arrival of fuel is a commissioning step; it does not mean either reactor has begun commercial generation.