Dbarta24 Report — Overcoming last-minute airspace clearance complications with Pakistan, the first consignment of nuclear fuel for Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is scheduled to touch down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday.
The shipment, arriving from Russia aboard a specialized cargo aircraft, will be transported directly to the plant site in Ishwardi, Pabna, under heavy military and civil security escort.
Nine Cargo Shipments Scheduled by December
According to project officials, a total of nine cargo flights will deliver the complete nuclear fuel batch required for the plant’s upcoming operational phases. Seven of these consignments are allocated for the second unit, while the remaining two are designated for refueling the first unit.
The initial shipment arriving Friday marks the rollout of a phased delivery schedule, with the Ministry of Science and Technology planning to receive all nine fuel cargoes by December.
Technical Complications Over Pakistan Airspace Resolved
The arrival comes after an earlier scheduled flight was canceled at the final hour due to the absence of transit permission over Pakistan’s airspace.
Transporting nuclear materials requires diplomatic clearances along the entire flight corridor, which encompasses Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India before reaching Bangladesh.
Addressing the delay, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the hold-up was neither political nor intentionally restrictive, but rather resulted from technical and procedural aviation requirements inherent to international air transit safety protocols.
Refueling Logistics and Long-Term Supply
Nuclear fuel loading for Unit 1 was completed during earlier operational phases. However, because a portion of the core’s nuclear fuel must be refreshed after roughly 1.5 years of operation, the government is securing refueling reserves in advance.
Under the intergovernmental agreement, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, will supply the nuclear fuel for the first three years of operation, after which Bangladesh will import fuel directly as required.
Safety Valve Defect Delays Unit 1 Grid Synchronization
While physical construction on Unit 1 is largely complete, its planned commercial commissioning for this month experienced a minor setback. Routine diagnostic checks uncovered a defect in one of the unit’s safety valves, prompting authorities to defer power generation.
A specialized team of Russian engineers and technicians has arrived at the Ishwardi site alongside replacement components to rectify the defect. Official sources confirmed that Unit 1 will be synchronized with the national power grid as soon as repair works and safety assessments are concluded.
Momentum Builds for 2,400 MW Nuclear Facility
Constructed with Russian financial and technical support, the 2,400-megawatt nuclear power facility features two 1,200 MW units built by Rosatom and its subsidiaries.
As construction on Unit 2 continues to progress, completing the delivery of all nine nuclear fuel shipments by December will mark a crucial milestone in finalizing fuel management for both units.