Rooppur Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Receives Green Light to Begin Power Generation Process

Bangladesh's long-awaited entry into nuclear electricity generation moved a step closer on Thursday when the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority granted formal approval for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to enter its power-startup phase. The decision, issued after the successful completion of required physical tests, allows operators to begin raising reactor power in a controlled manner and prepare the unit for its first trial connection to the national grid.

The approval covers Stage C of the commissioning process at Unit 1. During this stage, the reactor's thermal output will be increased gradually from zero, steam will be produced to drive the turbine, and the generator will be tested under operating conditions. Engineers will also verify the performance of safety systems and associated equipment before any electricity is supplied to the grid. Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Dr Md Zahedul Hasan confirmed that BAERA Chairman Md Mahamudul Hasan authorised the move after reviewing the results of the preceding B-2 phase tests.

Project officials expect trial power supply to begin once the reactor reaches roughly 30 to 35 percent of its thermal capacity. At that level, the unit could deliver approximately 300 megawatts to the national grid. If the remaining tests proceed without major setbacks, the first experimental electricity could reach the grid by December. Commercial operation, however, will still require additional verification steps and further regulatory clearances. Each of Rooppur's two units is designed to generate 1,200 megawatts, giving the plant a planned total capacity of 2,400 megawatts once both units are fully online.

Unit 1 achieved its first controlled nuclear fission reaction on 11 October after earlier delays caused by issues identified during safety-valve testing. The plant, located at Ishwardi in Pabna, is being built with technical support from Russia using VVER-1200 reactors and follows guidelines issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The overall project schedule has already been extended twice, with the current target for completion set for June 2028.

The Stage C clearance marks a shift from physical startup activities to the phase where electricity generation becomes possible. Operators will raise power in carefully monitored increments while turbine performance and grid-synchronisation readiness are assessed. A key milestone within this stage will be connecting the generator to the national grid and confirming that it can deliver stable power at the required frequency and voltage. BAERA will continue to oversee the process to ensure that all safety requirements are met before any sustained supply begins.

For Bangladesh, the development carries practical significance. The country has long faced challenges in meeting growing electricity demand, particularly during peak seasons, and has relied heavily on imported fuels and gas-based generation. A successful start of operations at Rooppur would add a large, low-carbon baseload source that can run continuously, reducing pressure on other power plants and helping to stabilise the national grid. Officials have emphasised that trial supply in December would represent only the beginning; full commercial output from Unit 1 will depend on the results of ongoing tests and further regulatory approvals.

While the approval is a clear milestone, several technical and procedural steps remain before the plant can operate at scale. Project authorities have stressed that Stage C testing, trial grid connection, and eventual commercial production are separate stages, each requiring its own clearances. With the regulatory go-ahead now in place, attention will turn to how smoothly the power-startup activities advance in the coming weeks and whether the December target for initial grid supply can be met.