The first batch of nuclear fuel from Russia arrived at the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh

“Rosatom» delivered the first batch of nuclear fuel to the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. The station, which is being built according to a Russian project, has received the status of a nuclear facility, reported press service of the state corporation. The transfer of fuel to the nuclear power plant was authorized via video link by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The People’s Republic of Bangladesh receives the status of a country with peaceful nuclear technologies. Project <...> will ensure stable energy supply and help preserve the unique nature of Bangladesh for future generations,” said Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also took part in the ceremony to receive nuclear fuel via videoconference. The Bangladeshi authorities were given a certificate confirming that the fuel was delivered in compliance with all safety requirements.

“We are honored to present you with a document on the delivery of nuclear fuel to the Rooppur nuclear power plant. Madam Prime Minister, I ask you to accept this document from your friendly Russia,” Putin addressed Sheikh Hasina.

Fuel for the Rooppur NPP was produced at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (part of Rosatom). The shipment was delivered under the control of the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Authority of the Republic of Bangladesh, the state corporation clarified.

An agreement on the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh was signed by Moscow and Dhaka in December 2015. The power plant is located on the eastern bank of the Padma River – 160 km from the capital of the republic. Rooppur is being designed and built according to a Russian project, which includes, among other things, the commissioning of two power units. Concrete was poured for the first power unit of Rooppur on November 30, 2017, construction began in 2018 with the help of Rosatom and with funds from the Russian state loan. The cost of the project is estimated at $13 billion.

The station will include two reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW. “Rosatom” reported that it plans to put the Rooppur nuclear power plant into operation before the end of 2024. Five Russian citizens who participated in the construction of the nuclear power plant died between January 26 and February 6, 2022. At the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh statedthat their death did not occur due to violent causes or due to work-related injuries.

According to the Indian Business Standard, in April 2023, Moscow and Dhaka agreed that the Bangladeshi side would pay the amount of current debt, equivalent to $318,000, in yuan against the backdrop of anti-Russian sanctions. At the same time, in 2021, Washington imposed sanctions on Bangladesh itself as an “undemocratic regime,” and in the spring of 2022, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland directly called on Dhaka to join the anti-Russian sanctions.