Yekaterinburg: Bangladesh has made a significant stride in the nuclear energy sector with the completion of the first power unit at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, marking the country's inaugural venture into nuclear energy.
According to United News of Bangladesh, this milestone was highlighted by Andrey Timonov, Director of the Communications Department of Rosatom, during a plenary session titled "Russia's Image in International Media." The session was part of the 'Media Stream' program at the International Festival of Youth (IFY-2026) held in Yekaterinburg.
Timonov stated that Rosatom, a leader in global nuclear technology, played a pivotal role in this development. "Rosatom stands at the forefront of global nuclear technology, delivering world-class solutions at every stage of the production cycle - a position reinforced by our extensive international footprint. This year, Rosatom has completed the construction of the first power unit in the People's Republic of Bangladesh, together with our Bangladeshi partners. Commissioning operations at the unit began this summer," he expressed.
He further elaborated on the project's significance, stating that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is designed to address Bangladesh's energy needs and accelerate its technological development. "We are witnessing the emergence of a new nuclear power, in the peaceful sense of this word. The project is designed not only to address the country's energy needs, but also to give a powerful impetus for its further development, to enable the Republic to complete the journey of technological development in years rather than decades, as has been the case in other countries," Timonov added.
Reflecting on his visits to Bangladesh, Timonov described the country's transformative journey. "Just ten years ago, there could be no talk of nuclear energy in their country. And today we welcome it as a new nuclear power," he noted. He observed a growing interest among young Bangladeshis in nuclear education, both domestically and in Russia.
Timonov shared insights into Bangladesh's long-standing vision for nuclear energy, dating back to the Soviet era. He recounted how the idea of a nuclear power plant was first proposed to Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, and how the nation is now leveraging this technology to rapidly advance its development. "We went there, it seemed, to build a power plant - but in reality, we built a symbol of national pride. We built an object that the entire country is proud of," he concluded.
The International Festival of Youth (IFY-2026) took place from September 11 to 17 under the motto "Follow Your Dream," attracting participants from 191 countries, including 90 delegates from Bangladesh.