Physics Tests Completed for Rooppur’s First Unit; Awaiting the Next Phase Toward Power Generation

All necessary technical evaluations, including physics tests, for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant have been successfully completed. A comprehensive report on these assessments has already been submitted to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA). Once the regulatory body grants formal clearance, the plant will enter the preparatory phase for electricity generation, known as "power startup."

According to project sources, if BAERA’s approval is secured, the experimental power startup process could commence promptly, in line with the established plan. Electricity generation will initially begin on a limited scale, with output levels gradually increased following the review of results from each stage.

Meanwhile, a high-level Russian delegation—currently visiting Bangladesh to monitor the progress of the Rooppur project—held a meeting with the Minister of Science and Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam. The delegation, led by Andrei Petrov, President of the engineering division of Rosatom, briefed the Minister on the overall technical progress of the first unit’s reactor. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology and senior officials from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

Dr. Md. Jahedul Hassan, Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), stated that all complex tests under the "B-2" phase have been completed with 100% success. Upon receiving the green light from BAERA, the unit will advance to the next stage and begin the process of generating electricity.

Officials involved in the project anticipate that once the production capacity of the first unit reaches 30 to 35 percent, it will be possible to begin transmitting electricity to the national grid. If everything proceeds as planned, there is a possibility that at least 300 megawatts of electricity from the first unit of the Rooppur plant could be added to the national grid by the end of this year.