The fourth shipment of nuclear fuel, uranium, for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, has arrived at the project site.

The fuel-laden vehicles entered the Rooppur project premises at 7:17 am on Saturday (October 31) under special security provided by the Bangladesh Army.

Earlier, the shipment arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Friday (October 30) aboard a special flight from Russia. At around 3:00 am on Saturday, the fuel was transported from the airport towards Rooppur in three lorries.

According to police and project officials, special security arrangements were maintained throughout the road journey from Dhaka. Members of the army, SRB and intelligence agencies were responsible for security. Police personnel were also deployed at various intersections along the highway.

To avoid traffic congestion during transportation, the movement of heavy vehicles on the highway was temporarily suspended.

Second Unit to Receive 163 Uranium Assemblies

Officials concerned said a total of 163 uranium fuel assemblies for the second unit of the Rooppur plant are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh in seven consignments.

In addition, another 48 assemblies in two consignments will be brought in for refuelling the first unit.

Saturday’s delivery marks the arrival of the fourth consignment for the second unit.

According to officials, seven more flights carrying uranium shipments from Russia are expected to arrive in Bangladesh during November and December.

Fuel Installation and Replacement in First Unit

The first shipment of nuclear fuel for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived in Bangladesh on September 29, 2023.

Four more consignments were transported to the project site during October and November of that year.

In May this year, nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor of the first unit. Approximately one and a half years later, one-fourth of the used fuel in the unit will need to be replaced.

For this purpose, an additional fuel shipment for the first unit arrived at Rooppur on October 3.

Meanwhile, the second shipment of fuel for the second unit reached the project site on the morning of October 21, followed by the third shipment on October 27.

Total Generation Capacity of 2,400 MW

Under the agreement, Russia will supply nuclear fuel to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant for the first three years. After that, Bangladesh will have to import fuel at scheduled intervals for replacement.

The two units of the power plant have a combined generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts.

Meanwhile, trial electricity generation at the plant’s first unit began on Friday (October 30).

The authorities hope to connect electricity generated by the plant to the national grid by December.