Uranium for Rooppur`s second unit arrives under tight guard

Under an unprecedented security cordon, the first consignment of uranium for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant reached its Ishwardi site on Saturday, bringing Bangladesh a decisive step closer to commissioning its maiden nuclear facility.

The convoy entered the plant premises at around 12:25 pm, and Pabna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam confirmed that the shipment had been delivered safely. The consignment had landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard a special cargo aircraft at about 11:30 pm on Friday. At roughly 7:15 am, the uranium-laden convoy then set out for Pabna under Bangladesh Army escort, with three lorries carrying the fuel and a fourth vehicle transporting essential equipment. Russian specialists accompanied the cargo throughout the journey.

Given the acutely sensitive nature of the shipment, a formidable security apparatus was mobilised along the route. In addition to the Army, police personnel, the Special Branch and several intelligence agencies were deployed to safeguard the convoy against any conceivable threat. Consequently, the operation proceeded without incident, underscoring the authorities' determination to protect a strategically vital national asset.

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Looking ahead, project sources indicate that nine consignments of nuclear fuel will be brought into the country, of which seven are earmarked for the second unit and two for refuelling the first. All deliveries are expected to be completed by December. Furthermore, engineers and officials maintain that, provided the remaining preparations stay on schedule, the authorities aim to connect between 200 and 300 megawatts to the national grid on a trial basis by the end of the year. Should this target be met, it would mark a landmark achievement in the country's long-awaited transition to nuclear energy.