Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's uranium transport for Unit 2 has been disrupted after Pakistan denied airspace clearance. The nuclear fuel was scheduled to arrive on September 24 but has not arrived yet. Bangladesh's Minister for Science and Technology, Faqir Mahbub Anam, stated that the exact reason for Pakistan's denial is still unknown. A new date has been proposed, with Russia indicating the first week of October for the uranium to arrive in Bangladesh.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh's first nuclear power facility, is being constructed in Rooppur village, located along the banks of the Padma River in Pakshi Union, Ishwardi Upazila, Pabna District. The project involves the construction of two third-generation VVER-1200 reactor units, which will collectively generate 2,400 megawatts of baseload electricity. The plant is being built with technical assistance from Russia's Rosatom and under the oversight of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
The initial shipment of low-enriched uranium fuel for Unit 1 of the 2,400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived safely from Russia in October 2023. Manufactured by Rosatom's Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, the 164 fresh fuel assemblies were flown directly from Russia into Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard a heavy-lift Russian cargo aircraft under strict international safeguards.
From the capital, the radiation-shielded containers were transported along a heavily fortified 'green corridor' guarded by the Bangladesh Army and law enforcement agencies to the plant site in Ishwardi, Pabna. An official handover ceremony was held after the transportation. Bangladesh officially ushered in the nuclear age with the arrival of the fuel.
According to Sheikh Mohammed Tauhidul Islam, Joint Secretary to the Bangladesh Science and Technology Ministry, all preparations at the airport were completed, but the liaison officer from Rosatom informed them that the airspace was not clear. As a result, the uranium could not be sent and may need to be rescheduled.
The issue of Pakistan withholding airspace clearance has caused a delay in the uranium transport. However, the exact reason behind this decision remains unknown. ANI sent an email to a Rosatom representative to find out more about the issue but has not received a response yet.
A new date for the uranium transport has been proposed, with Russia indicating the first week of October for the uranium to arrive in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's Minister for Science and Technology, Faqir Mahbub Anam, confirmed that a new date has been proposed, but further details are not available.
Key points
- Pakistan's denial of airspace clearance has disrupted the transport of uranium for Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
- The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being built with technical assistance from Russia's Rosatom and will generate 2,400 megawatts of baseload electricity.
- The initial shipment of low-enriched uranium fuel for Unit 1 of the plant arrived safely from Russia in October 2023.
