The loading of fresh nuclear fuel into the reactor of the first power unit of the Rooppur NPP in Bangladesh has been fully completed. The work was carried out by the engineering division of JSC Atomstroyexport (ASE, Rosatom's engineering division).
Fuel loading began on April 28, 2026, and became one of the key stages in preparing the unit for power start-up. A total of 163 fuel assemblies were sequentially installed in the reactor core.
After the loading is completed, the next stages will be the installation of the reactor's upper block and the connection of in-reactor control systems. Then, specialists will conduct a series of tests to confirm the reliable and safe operation of all technological systems.
According to project representatives, after the installation work is completed, the reactor will be brought to a minimum controlled power level. Then, a phased power increase will begin, which will prepare the unit for power start-up and pilot commercial operation.
The Rooppur NPP is being built 160 km from Dhaka according to a Russian design with two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW. This is the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, implemented under the 2015 contract.
