Bangladesh nears launch of first nuclear power plant

Bangladesh is set to bring its first nuclear reactor online within months, marking a long-delayed milestone as the country struggles with severe energy shortages linked to disruptions in the Middle East, Bloomberg reported.

The project, initiated under a previous administration that has since largely fled into exile following an August 2024 uprising, had originally been scheduled for commissioning early in 2025. However, technical challenges in integrating nuclear power into the national grid and suspected delays because of the Ukraine-Russia war have pushed back timelines.

The first of two 1.2 GW units at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant are now expected to begin fuel loading on April 7, with the reactor likely to be connected to the grid by as early as June, initially thereafter operating at around 30% capacity, which officials believe will offer partial relief to the strained power system.

At present, Bangladesh relies on gas for roughly half of its electricity generation, with import dependence rising steadily. Recent geopolitical tensions have disrupted supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz though, while an attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility has also driven up LNG prices, leaving the country painfully exposed to potential shortages during peak summer demand and adding pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

To this end, officials have indicated that even partial output from the nuclear plant would help ease supply constraints, though sources familiar with the project suggest it could take up to a year for the facility to reach full operational capacity, Bloomberg has reported.

The plant is being developed with Russian-designed VVER pressurised water reactors supplied by Rosatom. Delays in equipment deliveries have also contributed to the extended timeline.

As such, Bangladesh has recently strengthened its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency as part of efforts to ensure regulatory compliance and operational readiness.

In the short term, the government now plans to increase spot purchases of LNG to build a three-month buffer stock although this will not be easy in the current international climate. Dhaka also aims to procure 11 cargoes, some of which have already been secured at competitive rates, the energy minister said.