Rooppur:Dhaka Another shipment of uranium from Russia intended for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) has successfully arrived at the project site, utilizing an alternative route.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the uranium was transported in three specially designed trucks. The convoy traveled through the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, Padma Bridge, and passed through Faridpur, Rajbari, and Kushtia before reaching the RNPP site. This route was chosen to avoid the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and Jamuna Bridge due to ongoing garment workers' movements in Gazipur.
The uranium convoy, under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies, arrived at the Rooppur site at approximately 730 am. Project Site In-charge KBM Ruhul Quddus confirmed the secure transportation of the nuclear fuel, marking the first time this alternative route has been used.
This delivery brings the total number of uranium consignments to the site to five, comprising two for the first unit and three for the second unit of the RNPP. Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, had previously announced the transportation of 163 uranium fuel assemblies for the second unit and 48 assemblies for refueling the first unit, with a total of nine consignments planned.
The RNPP, being developed using Russian technology, features two VVER-1200 reactor units. The first unit has commenced the 'Power Startup Stage-C' programme following approval from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority. During this phase, the reactor's capacity will be tested, with plans to connect 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid on a trial basis in December, pending regulatory approvals.