How fuel loading will be carried out at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Bangladesh is set to enter a new phase in its energy journey as uranium fuel loading begins at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, marking a crucial step towards nuclear power generation.

According to a report by bdnews24, the fuel loading process for Unit 1 of the plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm today (28 April). With this, the country formally moves into the operational stage of generating electricity using nuclear energy.

Project officials said all necessary preparations have already been completed. 

Project in charge Ruhul Quddus said that with assistance from Russian experts and under the supervision of trained Bangladeshi engineers, installation of 163 fuel assemblies into the reactor core will begin later in the day.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority granted the formal licence for fuel loading on 16 April, following multiple layers of safety inspections and successful pre-operational tests conducted in line with standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Former project director of the country’s first nuclear power plant and ex-chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Shaukat Akbar, described the stage as a “historic milestone”. He told bdnews24 that the project is now transitioning from construction to final preparation for electricity generation. 

“Fuel loading marks the completion of the construction phase and the beginning of readiness for power generation,” he noted, adding that the plant will play a key role in meeting rising energy demand with carbon-free and environmentally friendly electricity.

What is fuel loading and how it works

Fuel loading is one of the most sensitive and technically complex stages of a nuclear power plant’s commissioning. It involves placing uranium fuel into the reactor core to enable controlled nuclear reactions.

Instead of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, or oil, nuclear plants use small uranium pellets – each weighing about 4.5 to 5 grams. These pellets are encased in zirconium alloy tubes to form fuel rods, which are then bundled into fuel assemblies.

At Unit 1, a total of 163 such fuel assemblies will be installed inside the reactor core using a specialised automated refuelling machine. 

The entire system, including transport equipment and machinery, has already been tested using dummy assemblies to ensure operational readiness.

The process is being carried out under strict safety protocols, with trained Bangladeshi operators working alongside experts from Rosatom. During loading, the reactor vessel will remain filled with water to help shield radiation.

Each assembly has a predetermined position within the core, as the configuration directly affects reactor performance and safety. After installation, control rods, which regulate the nuclear reaction, will be tested to ensure proper functioning.

The entire fuel loading process is expected to take around 45 days. Once completed, the reactor will be brought to a minimum controlled power level in a phase known as “first criticality”, where a controlled chain reaction begins.

Explaining the technical aspects, Shaukat Akbar told bdnews24 that each fuel assembly is about 4.6 metres long and weighs roughly 750kg, containing approximately 534kg of fuel.

“Each uranium pellet used in the reactor weighs just 4.5 to 5 grams, yet its energy output is remarkable. A single pellet can produce energy equivalent to about one tonne of coal,” he said.

He added that these pellets can meet a household’s electricity needs for several months without emitting toxic fumes or carbon.

Officials said that after fuel loading and subsequent tests, the plant is expected to begin supplying around 300MW of electricity to the national grid on a trial basis by late July or August this year.

The generation capacity will then be gradually increased, with Unit 1 projected to reach its full capacity of 1,200MW by the end of the year or early 2027.