goingcritical:rooppur-1Bangladesh · Power reactor

Rooppur-1

Developer: Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Ltd (Rosatom-built)

Site: Rooppur, Ishwardi, Pabna District

Status: Fuel loaded — target criticality 2026 (confidence: medium) target

Summary:

First nuclear power reactor in Bangladesh

Revised schedule agreed June 2025 targets commercial operation December 2026; initial ~300 MW generation expected July-August 2026. Loading of all 163 fuel assemblies completed mid-May 2026.

Details

DesignVVER-1200/V-523
Capacity1080 MWe

Milestone history

  1. Announced —
  2. Construction start November 30, 2017
  3. Fuel load April 28, 2026
  4. First criticality target 2026
  5. Grid connection —
  6. Commercial operation —

References

  1. WNN, fuel loading began 28 April 2026
  2. WNN, fuel loading completed at Rooppur 1
  3. WNN, operating licence and revised December 2026 schedule
  4. WNA Bangladesh profile (first concrete 30 November 2017)