Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh moved a step closer to nuclear power generation on Tuesday as officials began loading the first batch of uranium into Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), marking the final stage before generation begins.
The loading process is expected to take 30 to 45 days, after which trial power generation will begin, followed by commercial operations in August.
Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahabub Anam formally launched the process at an event attended by Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev and PM’s adviser Rehan Asif Asad. A recorded congratulatory message from IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi was also played.
Earlier, PM’s information and broadcasting adviser Zahed Ur Rahman told reporters at the Secretariat that initially around 300MW would be added to the national grid from the first unit in August.
“This project will meet 10% of Bangladesh’s total electricity demand and about two crore people will be benefited from it,” he said.