BAERA grants commissioning license for fuel loading at Nuclear Plant

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) has issued a commissioning license for fuel loading operations at Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Officials said the license was granted following reviews and monitoring by both national and international regulatory bodies.

The license and related personnel authorizations were formally handed over on Thursday by BAERA Chairman Mahmudul Hasan to Dr. M. Mainul Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

With this approval, the plant is set to reach a key milestone toward nuclear electricity generation in Bangladesh.

The official inauguration of the fuel loading process for Unit 1 is expected to take place in the last week of April.

Authorities said that electricity from the first unit is expected to be added to the national grid within three months after the start of fuel loading.

Subsequent testing and capacity-building operations will continue, with the goal of achieving full-scale power generation and grid integration by December.

Officials said the progress at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant marks a significant step toward ensuring energy security and sustainable electricity production in the country.

Senior officials from the Rooppur project and Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) were present during the ceremony.