A shipment of nuclear fuel, uranium for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, reached Rooppur in Pabna under tight security provided by the Bangladesh Army on Saturday (October 3).

A convoy carrying the uranium left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, at 7:15am on Saturday under heavy army security.

Pabna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam confirmed the development, saying, “The first uranium shipment for the project’s second unit reached Rooppur after 12:30pm.”

The convoy consisted of three lorries carrying uranium and another vehicle transporting other equipment. Members of a team of Russian experts also accompanied the convoy. In addition to the Army, police, the Special Branch of Police (SB) and various intelligence agencies were deployed for security.

A special cargo aircraft carrying uranium for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 11:30pm on Friday.

According to project sources, the fuel is being brought into Bangladesh in a total of nine shipments—seven for the plant’s second unit and two for refuelling the first unit. All nine shipments are targeted to be delivered successfully by December.

Project engineers and officials hope that, if all preparations are completed on schedule, the country’s first nuclear power plant could begin supplying 200 to 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid on a trial basis by December this year.