Pabna:The third consignment of nuclear fuel for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived at the project site in Pabna on Tuesday morning under stringent security measures. The convoy, escorted by the Bangladesh Army, traveled along the Natore-Kushtia-Pabna highway, entering the plant premises through the Dashuria traffic intersection at 748 am.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the convoy's transport of uranium was facilitated by a flight operated by Aviacon Zitotrans, which arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Russia via Delhi, India, on Monday morning. The aircraft carried 41 tonnes of nuclear fuel in 12 transport packages.
Traffic along the Pabna-Natore-Kushtia highway was suspended for half an hour to ensure the convoy's safe passage. Special security was provided by police and other law enforcement agencies to prevent traffic congestion during the convoy's journey from Dhaka to Rooppur in Ishwardi, which began around 230 am.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's first unit began its nuclear reaction on October 11, following final approval from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority on October 8. A team from Russia's Rosatom visited the project to review its progress, and this week, the first unit entered the critical Stage-C, or power startup, phase. The plant is expected to supply at least 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by the end of the year.