Rooppur nuclear reactor cleared to start first chain reaction

The Rooppur nuclear reactor has taken its biggest step yet towards producing electricity. Regulators have cleared Unit-1 to start its first controlled chain reaction, The Daily Star reported on Friday.

Md Mahmudul Hasan, chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, confirmed the approval. It was granted on Thursday, 8 October. He said the unit “is now eligible to reach the first criticality stage”.

What the Rooppur nuclear reactor approval allows

The B-2 licence lets Unit-1 reach criticality. That means a sustained reaction inside the core. It is not yet power generation.

Two more licences, known as C and D, are still needed. Only then can the unit connect to the national grid. The chairman said grid power could begin by the end of 2026 if the remaining stages go smoothly.

The path here has not been quick. Fuel loading began on 28 April and finished on 12 May, when 163 fuel assemblies were placed in the core, according to World Nuclear News. Testing followed.

Then two valves failed during commissioning. The Daily Star reports that technical faults delayed the process by more than two months. A Russian technical team spent about a month at the site fixing the problem. All tests on the automatic pressure relief valves are now complete.

The plant sits on the bank of the Padma River in Ishwardi, Pabna. It uses Russian VVER-1200 technology. Its two reactors are designed to produce 2,400 megawatts in total. The project cost about $13 billion.

For Bangladesh, the stakes are large. The country faces fuel import bills and an energy supply that depends heavily on gas and imported fuel. Reliable baseload power would help industry and households alike. The World Bank has already warned that growth is under strain, as we reported in our coverage of its latest forecast.

Nuclear power also demands careful oversight. Each licence stage exists so that regulators can check safety before output rises. The valve delay shows the system catching a fault before it mattered.

The next milestone is first criticality itself. After that, engineers will raise power in stages, with checks at every level. Readers should expect further announcements as the C and D licences come up for review.

Fact basis: The Daily Star (9 October 2026); World Nuclear News (12 May 2026).