TDS Desk:

Fuel loading has begun at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, marking the start of electricity generation from the facility’s first unit and Bangladesh’s formal entry into the ranks of nuclear power-producing nations.

With this development, Bangladesh has become the 33rd country in the world to generate electricity using nuclear energy.

However, electricity from the plant will take some time to be supplied to the national grid.

Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said the first reactor is expected to start commercial production in August.

“By the first week of January next year, around 1,100MW of electricity from the 1,200MW capacity Unit 1 will be supplied to the national grid,” he said at the fuel loading inauguration today (28 April).

According to the ministry sources, during this initial phase, the plant is expected to supply around 300 megawatts of electricity.

Welcoming the development, Alexey Likhachev, director general of Rosatom, said, “Today, Bangladesh has joined the group of nations that use peaceful nuclear energy as a reliable source of sustainable development. Undoubtedly, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will become a key element of the country’s energy system.”

“For Rosatom, this project marks another important step in the development of the global nuclear industry and in strengthening friendly relations with our international partners. We are pleased to work together with our Bangladeshi friends in building a modern and reliable nuclear power plant and see strong prospects for further cooperation,” he added.

What is fuel loading and how it works

Fuel loading is one of the most sensitive and technically complex stages of a nuclear power plant’s commissioning. It involves placing uranium fuel into the reactor core to enable controlled nuclear reactions.

Instead of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, or oil, nuclear plants use small uranium pellets weighing about 4.5 to 5 grams. These pellets are encased in zirconium alloy tubes to form fuel rods, which are then bundled into fuel assemblies.

At Unit 1 of the Rooppur plant, a total of 163 such fuel assemblies will be installed inside the reactor core using a specialised automated refuelling machine. The entire system has already been tested using dummy assemblies to ensure operational readiness.

The process is being carried out under strict safety protocols, with trained Bangladeshi operators working alongside experts from Rosatom. During loading, the reactor vessel remains filled with water to help shield radiation.

Each assembly has a predetermined position within the core, as the configuration directly affects reactor performance and safety. After installation, control rods – which regulate the nuclear reaction – will be tested to ensure proper functioning.

The entire fuel loading process is expected to take around 45 days. Once completed, the reactor will be brought to a minimum controlled power level in a phase known as “first criticality,” where a controlled chain reaction begins.

Explaining the technical aspects, Former project director of the country’s first nuclear power plant and ex-chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Shaukat Akbar, told bdnews24 that each fuel assembly is about 4.6 metres long and weighs roughly 750kg, containing approximately 534kg of fuel.

He noted that each uranium pellet, despite weighing just a few grams, can produce energy equivalent to about one tonne of coal and can power a household for several months without emitting toxic fumes or carbon.

Officials said that after fuel loading and subsequent tests, the plant is expected to begin supplying around 300MW of electricity to the national grid on a trial basis by late July or August.

The generation capacity will then be gradually increased, with Unit 1 projected to reach its full capacity of 1,200MW by the end of the year or early 2027.