Fuel loading at Rooppur plant to begin on April 7: Finance Minister
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Fuel loading at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will begin on April 7, marking a key milestone in Bangladesh’s nuclear power programme, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Thursday.
He said that electricity from the plant is expected to be connected to the national grid on a trial basis between June and July, adding that one unit of the project could generate around 1,200 megawatts of electricity at full capacity by December.
He made these remarks following a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin at the Planning Ministry in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka city.
The minister also said Bangladesh is exploring the possibility of expanding cooperation with Russia in the broader energy sector, including the import of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
However, the initiative faces certain challenges, particularly those related to US sanctions.
“We are waiting for a waiver from the United States,” he said, adding that Russia holds a strong position in the global energy market and has shown interest in cooperating with Bangladesh.
“There are opportunities to work together in the energy sector. We are examining how such collaboration can be pursued,” he added.
According to the minister, the meeting also covered Bangladesh-Russia bilateral relations, trade and commerce, and ways to expand cooperation in energy supply.
He said the government is working to diversify energy sources to ensure a stable supply of fuel and electricity for the country’s growing economy.
Stronger international cooperation in the power and energy sectors will help reinforce Bangladesh’s long-term energy security, he added.
Highlighting the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the minister said Bangladesh urgently needs to strengthen electricity generation and add new capacity to the national grid to ensure energy security.
“Our immediate priority is to move into production and ensure electricity output that can be added to the grid,” he said, noting that power security remains a major concern for the country.
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