Rosatom expects physical launch of Rooppur NPP Unit 1 in coming days

Lead

The head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, said in an interview published Sunday that the physical launch of Unit 1 of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, Rooppur, is expected in the coming days. The statement comes after nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor of Unit 1 on April 28, marking a key milestone for the project that has been in development for decades.

Likhachev's remarks, carried by the Russian state news agency TASS, noted that the plant is "not just a new generation facility" but "a fundamental solution capable of changing people's quality of life for decades ahead and creating a reliable energy base for economic growth." He also framed the project in terms of national security, saying that "commissioning domestic nuclear generation is not only a matter of energy, but also one of national security and resilience."

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the Rooppur project has been dominated by Russian state-affiliated media, particularly TASS, which has issued multiple reports highlighting the plant's progress and significance. The Australian public broadcaster ABC also provided extensive coverage, focusing on Russia's broader role as the world's leading exporter of nuclear reactors and the strategic implications of its nuclear exports.

All sources agree on the core facts: the Rooppur plant features two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 megawatts, is located 160 kilometers from Dhaka, and is being built under a general contract signed on December 25, 2015. The project has faced challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and international turbulence, according to statements from Rosatom's CEO and the Russian ambassador to Bangladesh.

However, the framing differs notably. TASS reports, consistent with its role as a state news agency, tend to emphasize the project's positive aspects, including its contribution to Russia-Bangladesh relations and its potential to modernize Bangladesh's economy. The ABC article strikes a more critical tone, highlighting concerns about dependency, corruption, and the strategic nature of Russia's nuclear exports.

The ABC report also provides historical context, noting that "since the 1960s, the country now known as Bangladesh has tried to construct a grand nuclear power scheme in the sleepy village of Rooppur." It quotes a retired teacher, Amirul Islam, reflecting on the project's long gestation: "As children, we watched that empty site with curiosity, having little grasp of what 'nuclear' truly meant... As we transitioned from childhood to middle age, we watched the geography of our homes shift, waiting for the promise to manifest."

Key claims

• Physical launch imminent: Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev, in an interview with the corporate newspaper Strana Rosatom, said the physical launch of Unit 1 is expected "in the coming days." This claim has been reported solely by TASS and has not been independently verified.

• Nuclear fuel loaded: On April 28, nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor of Unit 1, with Likhachev and Bangladesh's Minister of Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam symbolically pressing a button to signal the start of the loading process. This was reported by multiple TASS dispatches.

• Plant capacity and output: The plant, with two VVER-1200 reactors, will have a total capacity of 2,400 MW. According to Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin, it will ensure around 10% of Bangladesh's electricity consumption after full launch. This figure appears in multiple reports.

• Unit 2 timeline: Likhachev stated that startup operations for Unit 2 are scheduled to begin in 2027, saying: "We continue working proactively on the second unit. I have no doubts startup operations at the second unit will also begin next year."

• Transfer of Unit 1: The first unit will be "de-jure" transferred to the Bangladeshi operator before the end of 2026, according to Likhachev, who explained that the unit is a replica of units at Russia's Novovoronezhskaya NPP, allowing for a clear understanding of all subsequent stages.

• Loan repayment schedule: Ambassador Khozin said that Bangladesh's first loan repayment is scheduled for September 2028. The intergovernmental loan agreement, originally signed in 2017, was adjusted in July 2025 to postpone the start of principal repayment by 1.5 years, ensuring "uninterrupted works on the construction of the power plant from a financial point of view." The loan amount in January 2017 was $11.38 billion.

• IAEA chief's remarks: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called the operational launch of the first unit "a great day," adding that "the development represents a long-term commitment that brings both long-term benefits and responsibilities." These comments were reported by TASS but not by other sources in the sample.

Perspectives

Rosatom and Russian officials: The project is portrayed as a success story of bilateral cooperation, overcoming external challenges. Likhachev emphasized that despite the pandemic, international turbulence, and domestic political changes in Bangladesh, "we have not stopped construction for a single day." He also said Bangladesh is "now fully entitled to the status of a nation using peaceful nuclear technologies." Ambassador Khozin described the physical start-up as "not simply a technical ceremony, but a milestone in the implementation of a major bilateral project."

International observers (ABC Australia): The coverage focuses on Russia's global dominance in nuclear exports, with state-owned Rosatom benefiting from "heavy government backing, weak competition, and control of its entire supply chain." The report notes that Russia's nuclear industry has been spared from Western sanctions, and that the US and other Western countries have tried to reduce their reliance on Russian nuclear fuel. While acknowledging the project's completion, the tone carries a cautionary note about dependencies and corruption.

IAEA: Grossi's statement, as quoted by TASS, frames the plant's launch as a positive development with long-term implications, both in terms of benefits and responsibilities for Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi perspectives: The ABC report includes a quote from a local resident, indicating local interest and anticipation, but no official Bangladeshi government statements beyond the minister's participation in the fuel-loading ceremony were included in the available material.

Note: The claims above are drawn from the source material provided. Some claims, particularly those attributed to a single outlet, have not been independently verified.