The first unit of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant will be connected to the national power grid at the end of November, according to Aleksey Likhachev, CEO of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
Likhachev announced the timeline during a meeting with Bangladeshi Minister of Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam in Dhaka on Friday, where key issues relating to the Rooppur nuclear project were discussed.
The development marks a major milestone for Bangladesh, which is turning to nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand and reduce reliance on other power sources. The Rooppur plant is the country's most expensive infrastructure project and represents a deepening of energy cooperation between Dhaka and Moscow.
The Rooppur plant, located about 160 km from Dhaka and built by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, consists of two units, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW). Fuel loading at the facility began in April.
The first unit is expected to begin operations with an initial supply of 300 MW, according to remarks made by Minister Anam in April. Once fully completed, the plant is projected to meet up to 12% of Bangladesh's electricity demand.
The Rooppur nuclear plant carries heavy financial and technical backing from Russia. Moscow is financing $11.9 billion in state loans for the project, which is estimated to cost up to $12.8 billion in total.
Russia is providing equipment, nuclear fuel, and engineering assistance for the facility. In June, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman described the plant as a "monument to cooperation" between the two countries during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Speaking about the ongoing work, Likhachev emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. "Our specialists are not only building, but standing shoulder to shoulder, working with operators in Bangladesh to ensure effective and safe operation of the plant," he said.
He added that final decisions would rest with Bangladeshi authorities. "All the final decisions will be made by the government of Bangladesh, the people of Bangladesh," Likhachev said. "We are aiming for around the end of November."
Fuel loading at the first unit has been underway since April, and connection to the power grid is now targeted for late November. Likhachev noted that work remains to be completed before the unit becomes operational.
No further official confirmation has been issued regarding the exact grid connection date or the operational schedule for the second unit.
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