Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Set to Supply First 300MW to National Grid by August End

Bangladesh is on course to enter a new chapter in its energy history, with the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant expected to deliver its first electricity to the national grid by the end of August this year.

The announcement was made on Sunday by Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam in a written response to a question raised in the National Parliament by Jamalpur-3 lawmaker Md Mostafizur Rahman Babul regarding the operational timeline of the country's first nuclear power facility.
 

According to the minister, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is currently undergoing its commissioning and start-up phase, widely regarded as the final and most technically demanding stage before commercial electricity generation can begin.
 

Fuel loading activities for Unit-1 entered the crucial Stage-B phase, known as Fuel Loading and Physical Startup, on 28 April 2026. Since then, engineers and technical experts have been carrying out a series of complex procedures required to ensure the reactor's readiness for safe operation.

These activities include the installation of nuclear fuel inside the reactor core, boric acid addition, safety system verification, testing of the reactor and primary circuit, sub-criticality assessments, and other commissioning procedures designed to meet international safety standards.

The minister informed parliament that the next phase of operations will involve bringing the reactor to a critical state, followed by integrated testing of control and protection systems and low-power operational assessments.

Once these steps are completed successfully, the reactor's output will be increased gradually. Initially, power generation capacity will be raised to approximately 10 to 12 percent before advancing to between 35 and 40 percent capacity during subsequent testing phases.
 

Based on the schedule provided by the project's contractor, the plant's generator is expected to be synchronised with the national grid around the 114th day after fuel loading commenced. This timeline points to the end of August 2026 as the target date for the first grid connection.
 

At the initial stage, Unit-1 is projected to contribute around 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. The output is expected to increase progressively as further testing and operational verification are completed.
 

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, located in Pabna district, represents one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken by Bangladesh. The facility is expected to play a vital role in diversifying the country's energy mix, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and strengthening long-term energy security.

As global demand grows for stable, round-the-clock electricity generation while countries pursue ambitious climate goals, nuclear energy has regained prominence worldwide. For Bangladesh, the successful integration of Rooppur's first unit into the national grid would mark a historic achievement and a significant step toward meeting the nation's rising power demands through cleaner and more reliable energy sources.