Indian Council of World Affairs

Abstract: With the ongoing international energy crisis, Bangladesh is on the path of generating civil nuclear power generation from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP). The benefits, prospects and challenges can be a learning experience for developing nations in the Global South. 

Introduction: Bangladesh is moving into the concluding phase of its nuclear energy programme, with uranium fuel being introduced into the Rooppur reactor starting on April 28, 2026, marking its entry as the 33rd nation to use nuclear power. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, this marks the final stage before commercial electricity generation begins. Power production will be initiated in phases on a trial basis, with around 300 megawatts expected to be supplied to the national grid by next August. The inauguration of the programme was attended by Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisor Rehan Asif Asad, and Russian Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Director Alexei Likhachev, while International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi will join the event virtually.[i]

The First Nuclear Power Plant of Bangladesh: The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project is being carried out by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission under the Ministry of Science and Technology. As part of the project, two 1,200 MW power units are being constructed by the Russian contractor Atomstroyexport, the engineering division of Russia's Rosatom State Corporation.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to deliver electricity at a lower long-term cost compared to fossil fuels and will meet around 10–12 percent of the country’s power demand. The project carries significant economic value and has contributed to the development of a skilled workforce. Trial supply of electricity to the national grid is scheduled to begin by the third week of August.

The effort to develop nuclear energy began in 1961, but the project was later shelved by the then Pakistani government a few years after land had been acquired in Rooppur. The initiative was subsequently revived after Bangladesh gained independence. Nuclear power was later identified as a potential alternative energy source in the National Energy Policy of 1995. This was followed in 2011 by an intergovernmental cooperation agreement between Bangladesh and Russia. Under the agreement, a general contract was signed in December 2015 between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Atomstroyexport, the engineering arm of Rosatom, for the construction of a nuclear power plant. The deal covers plant construction, equipment supply and installation, commissioning and test operations, workforce training, and the provision of nuclear fuel for the initial three years.[ii]

Present Status: Construction of the two units at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is nearly complete, and the transmission line for evacuating power from the first unit has also been finished. All stages have been executed in line with international standards prior to the introduction of nuclear fuel. The plant is expected to undergo a trial generation phase that could last up to a year, during which multiple tests will be carried out. Necessary clearances from international bodies and approvals from the country’s nuclear regulatory authority will also be required. Fresh fuel needs to be loaded approximately every one and a half years, while a unit may be taken offline for up to two months to remove spent fuel, insert new fuel, and carry out maintenance.[iii]

To address growing energy needs, the government is exploring nuclear power alongside renewables as a long-term, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solution. The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 20 million tonnes annually compared to coal-based plants and about 8 million tonnes compared to gas-fired plants. The project has created employment for roughly 2,500 people, while at the peak of construction, between 20,000 and 25,000 workers were engaged on site each day.[iv]

Challenge: In the current geo-political situation, the power project faces a major obstacle keeping aside the usual environmental concerns. Continued nuclear fuel from ROSATOM can be a major point of friction for Bangladesh. When Bangladesh signed its reciprocal trade agreement with the United States in February 2026, under the interim government under Yunus, attention largely centred on garments and tariffs, while a brief provision in Article 4.3 went relatively unnoticed. The clause stipulates that Bangladesh will not procure nuclear reactors, fuel rods, or enriched uranium from any country deemed to “jeopardise essential U.S. interests.” Such procurement would result in the increase of tariffs or trade blockade with the US.[v]

Though initial production will not face any major problem, but replenishing fuel rods in the future can be difficult. The global nuclear market is dominated by a few major players—Russia’s Rosatom, Beijing’s China National Nuclear Corporation, Westinghouse Electric Company of the US, and Framatome of France. Changing suppliers midway through a project is highly impractical, as reactors are designed for specific fuel assemblies. The costs of conversion are substantial, and any transition could result in prolonged downtime lasting several years.[vi]

Similarly, the reciprocal trade agreement with the US might make it difficult for Bangladesh to pursue further construction and expansion of civilian nuclear power plants with ROSATOM. It should be noted that Western nuclear fuel suppliers are expensive, financing conditions are less attractive, and delivery schedules have historically been inconsistent making the future of the Rooppur power plant and its expansion unpredictable.

To conclude, it can be stated that the Rooppur power plant will open a new chapter in the path of gaining energy efficiency, a major component in a continued economic growth for the nation. It is on the Bangladeshi policy and lawmakers to pursue and forge pathways to steer the nation towards a stable path of economic growth and stability.  

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*Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjee, Sr. Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal.

End Notes

[i] “পারমাণবিক বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের পথে বাংলাদেশ, রূপপুরে জ্বালানি ব্যবহার শুরু হচ্ছে আজ”, প্রথম আলো, April 28, 2026, https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/ud1r7hck3s accessed on April 28, 2026

[ii] “পারমাণবিক বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের পথে বাংলাদেশ, রূপপুরে জ্বালানি ব্যবহার শুরু হচ্ছে আজ”, প্রথম আলো, April 28, 2026, https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/ud1r7hck3s accessed on April 28, 2026

[iii]

[iv] “Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Bangladesh moves towards nuclear electricity generation”, Prothom Alo, April 28, 2026, https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/8rwdwsnif8 accessed on April 29, 2026

[v] Shadow over future nuclear energy ambition, The Daily Star, April 28, 2026, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/shadow-over-future-nuclear-energy-ambition-4162481 accessed on April 29, 2026

[vi] Shadow over future nuclear energy ambition, The Daily Star, April 28, 2026, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/shadow-over-future-nuclear-energy-ambition-4162481 accessed on April 29, 2026