Rooppur Unit 1 gets approval for first criticality

Bangladesh has obtained approval to begin the first criticality of Unit 1 at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, marking a landmark step towards the country's first nuclear power generation.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) granted the clearance on Thursday, enabling the reactor to shift from a static state to active operation. Project officials said that technical complications involving the unit's automatic pressure-relief safety valves had delayed the approval; a team of Russian specialists subsequently resolved the problems and completed the requisite safety tests, thereby paving the way for first criticality and, potentially, a trial supply of electricity to the national grid in late December.

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Following the approval, the reactor will undergo its first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. After this physical start-up, the plant will enter the power start-up stage, during which thermal output will be raised gradually from an initial 3% to 20-30%. Once that level is attained, the generator can be synchronised with the national grid, subject to a separate trial-operation licence from BAERA. Should the process proceed as scheduled, Bangladesh will become the 33rd country in the world to generate nuclear power, a significant milestone in its energy and technological development.