Construction of the major energy project is entering the home stretch. Rosatom has received a license to operate the first power unit of the Rooppur NPP in Bangladesh — this means the plant is ready for the key launch stage.
Before this, specialists from the state corporation conducted a final inspection of the facility's readiness. The next step is the physical startup. The reactor will begin to be loaded with nuclear fuel: 163 fuel assemblies will be installed in the core.
As Atomstroyexport Vice President Alexey Deriy explained, during 2026 the power unit will be gradually brought to the minimum controlled power level. After that, power startup will begin, when the plant starts generating and supplying electricity to Bangladesh's power grid.
In February 2026, Aleksey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation, reported that the company was approaching the beginning of startup operations at the plant.
The full commissioning of the first power unit is scheduled before the end of 2026. The Rooppur NPP will consist of two power units with a total capacity of 2,400 MW.
Read more on the topic:
- Rooppur NPP Sets Record for Pipeline Flushing
- 84,000 Blocks: Cooling System Installation Begins at Rooppur NPP Cooling Towers
- Another Step Towards Launching Power Unit No. 1 of the Rooppur NPP: Nuclear Scientists Purge Steam Pipeline in Turbine Hall