Business & Economy
Rooppur reactor reaches first criticality, with grid tests still ahead
Rooppur’s first reactor has achieved a self-sustaining nuclear reaction. Further testing and licences are required before electricity reaches the grid. Officials are targeting an initial 300-megawatt trial supply by the end of December, provided the remaining stages succeed.
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From 13 October 2026 — Daily Brief
Rooppur’s first reactor has begun a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear reaction, taking Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project into a new phase of commissioning. The process started on 11 October after regulatory clearance.
The milestone, known as first criticality, occurs at low power. It is not the start of commercial electricity supply. The 1,200-megawatt unit still needs further tests and two additional licences before connection to the national grid, officials told The Financial Express.
The regulator said safety-valve problems that delayed approval had been resolved. An inspection of the unit’s technical systems and operational readiness is scheduled to continue until 17 October.
Officials are targeting an initial trial supply of around 300 megawatts by the end of December. That timetable depends on successful testing and approvals; output would increase gradually rather than reach the reactor’s full capacity immediately. The next licensing stages will determine when the plant can begin supplying electricity.