Fuel loading has officially started at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), paving the way for experimental electricity generation at Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility located in Ishurdi Upazila of Pabna.

According to project officials, uranium fuel loading began after 3:30 pm today. The process is expected to take around 21 to 30 days, marking a major milestone as the country steps into the nuclear power era.

Former project director Dr. Shuwkat Akbor confirmed that fuel insertion into the reactor has begun, noting that the loading process may take up to 21–34 days to complete. “With this stage underway, the power generation process has officially started,” he said.

A technical expert associated with the project said that initial electricity production will begin at around one percent capacity, gradually increasing up to 30 percent. The first unit is expected to initially supply about 300 MW of electricity, which will later be added to the national grid between late July and early August.

Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology and Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anan said all procedures are being conducted in line with international safety standards. “Safety remains the top priority for Bangladesh. This project will further strengthen the long-standing cooperation between Dhaka and Moscow,” he said while inaugurating the physical start-up process of Unit-1.

He also added that commercial production of around 300 MW from the first unit is expected by late July or early August, while full-scale generation could begin by December this year or early 2027 in phases.

Prime Minister’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad described the occasion as a landmark moment for the country, saying Bangladesh has taken a significant step forward in technological advancement.

Representatives from Russia’s Rosatom, including Director General Alexey Likhachev, attended the ceremony, along with officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Science and Technology. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi also sent a video message, welcoming Bangladesh into the group of nations using peaceful nuclear energy for sustainable development.

Rosatom officials stated that Russia has supplied the uranium fuel and continues to support technical operations and training. Under the agreement, Russian experts will initially operate the reactor, while Bangladeshi personnel will gradually take over management responsibilities over the coming years.

The RNPP project, implemented under Russian technical and financial cooperation, was formalized through agreements signed in 2013 and 2015. The total project cost is estimated at $12.65 billion, with a total planned capacity of 2,400 MW across two units.

The plant is based on the advanced VVER-1200 III+ reactor design, which includes multiple layers of safety systems such as active and passive protection mechanisms and a core catcher. Each unit is capable of producing 1,200 MW of electricity, and the facility is designed for a 60-year operational life, extendable up to 100 years.

Construction of the first unit has now been completed with fuel loading underway, while work on the second unit is still in progress and expected to be finished next year.