Another uranium shipment reaches Rooppur amid tight security

Another consignment of uranium imported from Russia for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) has arrived at the project site under tight security.

Md Zahedul Hassan, managing director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), said three specialised trucks carrying the nuclear fuel reached the project area at 7:17am on Saturday under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army and strict security measures enforced by other law enforcement agencies.

With this latest consignment, a total of four shipments of nuclear fuel have, so far, reached the project site, including two consignments of additional fuel for the first unit and two for the second unit.

Earlier, Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said it planned to transport a total of 163 uranium fuel assemblies for the second unit in seven cargo flights, along with another 48 additional fuel assemblies in two cargo consignments for refuelling the first unit.

Accordingly, the nuclear fuel for both units will be brought to Bangladesh in a total of nine consignments.

Built with Russian technology, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has two VVER-1200 reactor units. Meanwhile, the first unit has already entered the 'Power Startup Stage-C' phase.

On 29 October, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) Chairman Mahmudul Hasan granted approval to begin Stage-C activities at the first unit.

During Stage-C, the reactor's power capacity will be gradually increased, while the performance of various plant equipment, turbine-generators, operational systems and safety mechanisms will be tested.

Following the successful completion of these tests, the generator of the first unit will be connected to the national power transmission grid. This process is known as 'synchronisation'.

If everything proceeds as planned, the authorities aim to supply electricity generated on a trial basis by the first unit to the national grid in November.

However, the process will be carried out subject to fulfilment of the conditions set by the regulatory authority and receipt of the necessary approvals.