A fresh shipment of uranium for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has arrived in Bangladesh from Russia via India.

The aircraft carrying the nuclear fuel landed at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 11:30 PM on Friday (October 2).

Upon arrival, officials from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) received the consignment. Under strict security and the supervision of the Bangladesh Army, the shipment is scheduled to be transported to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant located in Ishwardi, Pabna.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam informed journalists that all preparations to transport the shipment to Rooppur were complete following the aircraft's landing in Dhaka. He reiterated that the fuel would be delivered to the plant under military security.

Key Highlights
Delivery Schedule: According to relevant sources, plans are in place to bring additional uranium for the plant in a total of nine flights between November and December. This includes 48 uranium assemblies for the first unit and 163 for the second unit.

Transit Route: The fuel shipments are scheduled to travel from Russia through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India before reaching Bangladesh.

Prior Milestone: Fuel for the first unit's initial delivery was brought into the country in 2023, and it was loaded into the nuclear reactor in May of this year.

Valve Testing Update: Meanwhile, progress has been made regarding testing for the Rooppur project's automatic pressure relief valves. While the first two valves passed successfully, the third did not yield the desired outcome, and preparations are underway to retest it.

Project Director Dr. Kabir Hossain confirmed the development, stating that it is not a major issue.

He noted that the core matter has already been addressed and the issue with the third valve will be resolved swiftly.

Once these related procedures are completed, it will pave the way forward for the phased commencement of electricity generation at the nation's first nuclear power plant.