Fifth uranium shipment reaches Rooppur via alternative route

The fifth shipment of uranium imported from Russia has reached the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant under tight security, using an alternative route for the first time instead of the conventional Dhaka-Tangail highway and Bangabandhu Bridge.

Three trucks carrying nuclear fuel arrived at the project site around 7:30am on Friday under special security arrangements by the Bangladesh Army, with members of other law enforcement agencies also deployed.

The convoy travelled from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka via the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, Padma Bridge, Bhanga in Faridpur, Rajbari, Kushtia and the Lalon Shah Bridge in Pakshi before reaching the Rooppur project site.

This route had never been used before for transporting uranium to the nuclear power plant.

The entire road journey from Dhaka to Ishwardi was secured by the army, police, the Special Response Battalion (SRB) and members of various intelligence agencies.

With the latest shipment, a total of five uranium shipments have reached the project site, including one additional shipment for Unit 1 and four for Unit 2.

Previously, uranium shipments destined for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant were transported from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport via the Dhaka-Tangail highway, Bangabandhu Bridge, Bonpara in Natore and Dashuria in Ishwardi, Pabna.

Rooppur project Site-in-Charge KBM Ruhul Quddus told the Daily Sun over the phone that the alternative route was used for the first time on security grounds to avoid possible clashes amid the ongoing garment workers' unrest in Gazipur.

Project officials said Unit 1 had already entered the 'Power Startup Stage-C' phase.

If everything proceeds as planned, the project aims to supply around 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid on a trial basis by late November or the first week of December.