Stories
Bangladesh, US Ink Nuclear Energy Pact; Rooppur Fuel Delivery Delayed
- •Bangladesh and the United States signed an agreement for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, continuing an initiative first undertaken in 1981.
- •The agreement was signed by Rehan Asad, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Science and Technology for Bangladesh, and Jacob Helberg, Secretary for the United States.
- •Delivery of Uranium fuel for Unit 2 of Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has been delayed due to uncleared airspace, according to Sheikh Mohammed Tauhidul Islam, Joint Secretary to the Bangladesh Science and Technology Ministry.
- •The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh's first nuclear facility, is being built with technical assistance from Russia's Rosatom and will feature two VVER-1200 reactor units generating 2,400 megawatts.
- •Unit 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant previously received its initial shipment of low-enriched uranium fuel from Russia in October 2023, transported under strict international safeguards.
Key Questions Answered
Bangladesh and the United States signed an agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which was a continuation of an initiative first undertaken in 1981 during the regime of President Ziaur Rahman. The accord was signed by Rehan Asad, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Science and Technology, and U.S. Secretary Jacob Helberg.
The uranium fuel shipment for Unit 2 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant could not arrive as scheduled because the airspace was not clear. Although all preparations were completed at the airport, a liaison officer from Rosatom informed officials that the airspace was blocked, requiring a potential rescheduling of the delivery.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is situated along the banks of the Padma River in Pakshi Union, Ishwardi Upazila, Pabna District. The facility features two third-generation VVER-1200 reactor units constructed with support from Russia's Rosatom, which will collectively generate 2,400 megawatts of baseload electricity.
