First batch of uranium reaches Rooppur plant

The first batch of uranium for Rooppur nuclear power plant, which arrived at the Dhaka airport yesterday, reached the project site this afternoon under special security arrangements following international guidelines.

The consignment reached the Rooppur plant in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila around 1:25pm after it started from Dhaka this morning, reports our Pabna correspondent quoting an official of the power plant.

Bangladesh Army led the security protocol for transporting the nuclear fuel, a senior official of the Rooppur project said earlier seeking anonymity.

The radioactive fuel was carried in special vehicles escorted by vehicles of the armed forces, fire brigade, health service personnel, and other necessary security arrangements will be in place, sources said.

The radioactive fuel will be stored at the project site, sources in the power plant told our Pabna correspondent.

The handover ceremony is likely to be held on October 5. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to join the ceremony virtually, project sources said, adding that the director general of International Atomic Energy Agency is likely to attend the ceremony, project officials said.

A Russian chartered plane, carrying the nuclear fuel for Unit-1 in Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 1:30pm yesterday.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being built at Ishwardi in Pabna for $12.65 billion. The two units of the plant have a capacity to produce 2,400 MW of electricity. Unit-1 is likely to be commissioned next year.