1. Bangladesh plans to build two more nuclear units at the Rooppur nuclear power plant.
2. The first two units at Rooppur are 85% complete and expected to start providing electricity in 2025.
3. Global sanctions on Russia have caused delays in the project, with a German company refusing to supply necessary equipment.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed interest in building two more nuclear units at the Rooppur nuclear power plant, currently under construction by Russian state-owned nuclear company Rosatom. Hasina also urged Rosatom to involve Bangladeshi expertise in other nuclear power projects. The possibility of constructing a high-power research reactor is also being reviewed.
The first two units at Rooppur, 85% complete, are expected to provide electricity to the national grid by 2025. Hasina and Rosatom agreed that spent nuclear fuel from the units would be returned to Russia as a gesture of gratitude for helping ensure Bangladesh’s energy security. This partnership signifies a growing relationship between the two nations, with Hasina congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election.
However, progress on the Rooppur nuclear power plant has been hampered by global sanctions imposed on Russia following the war in Ukraine in 2022. German company Siemens refused to supply equipment, leading Bangladesh to seek a Chinese company for assistance. Despite these challenges, the construction of the Rooppur nuclear power plant, featuring Russian VVER-1200 reactors with a 60-year life cycle, continues.