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ministry, told The Daily Star.

Md Zahedul Hasan, managing director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company of Bangladesh Ltd (NPCBL), said, “We must navigate a challenging test phase during commissioning. Tests will be conducted at various stages to prepare the Final Safety Analysis Report.”

This pilot operation will take between six months and a year. “During this time, engineers will monitor synchronisation, turbine generator functions, and the efficacy of emergency support systems,” he said.

While this initial output serves as a critical trial of the plant’s capabilities, full commercial operations will follow only after the successful completion of rigorous commissioning protocols, Zahedul said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency will monitor the process, directly supervised by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, he added.

Located on the bank of the Padma river in Ishwardi, the $12.65 billion plant is the single largest infrastructure investment in Bangladesh’s history. It consists of two units with two generation-III+ VVER-1,200 reactors built with Russia’s financial and technical assistance.

Once both units become fully operational, the plant will generate 2,400MW, accounting for around 10 percent of the country’s installed electricity generation capacity.

Unit-1 was slated for completion in 2022, but it faced delays due to several factors, including soil stabilisation issues, the Covid-19 pandemic, setbacks in grid line construction, and logistical disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Consequently, the total cost rose to Tk 1,38,685 crore from Tk 1,13,089 crore. The addition of 10 new project components, the depreciation of taka, and revised costs for maintenance and advisory services also contributed to this cost overrun.

According to officials, unit-2 is nearing completion and is expected to start commercial operation in 2028.

At present, Bangladesh has an installed generation capacity of 28,919MW from 136 power plants, including government, non-government, and imported sources. However, over 95 percent of this capacity relies on fossil fuels, of which 70 percent is imported.

Despite having high capacity on paper, the country often struggles to meet daily demand of under 18,000MW due to fuel shortages, a problem compounded by the US‑Israel war on Iran. Experts say the demand could exceed 30,000MW by 2030.

“We are heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. In the current global context, we are unable to secure sufficient fuel to operate most plants, which has severely hampered power generation,” said Md Zahurul Islam, member (Planning and Development) at Bangladesh Power Development Board.

The addition of nuclear power to the national grid is expected to resolve this crisis by providing a stable, “base-load” power which is not subject to the volatility of global fossil fuel prices.

To transmit the electricity, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh has built five new grid lines. Of them, three lines spanning 370 kilometres from Rooppur to Gopalganj, Bogura, and Baghabari are already complete.

Md Delwar Hossain, chief engineer of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, said the lines have failovers and are ready to transmit power. The price of electricity per unit has not been finalised, but the NPCBL expects it to be cheaper than coal-generated power.

SAFETY MEASURES

Built in line with post-Fukushima safety standards, the plant features passive safety systems and self-cooling for 72 hours without human intervention.

It has a “core catcher”, a safety vessel designed to contain molten fuel in the unlikely event of a core meltdown. Besides, there are “double-containment” reinforced concrete layers to prevent radiation leaks and protect against external impacts.

Prof M Shamsul Alam, energy adviser to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, voiced concern over both safety and operational costs. Past incidents in the energy sector were caused by negligence and substandard practices, yet accountability was never ensured, he said.

Initially, officials projected that power would be generated at Tk 6 per unit, but now estimates suggest the cost could climb to Tk 12 per unit, Prof Shamsul said. “If that is the case, then the very justification for taking such risks -- cheap electricity -- collapses,” he said.

Shawkat Akbar, who served as the project director from 2008 to 2024, said that as the plant transitions from the construction to the operational phase, focus now should be on building a nuclear culture that prioritises safety and security above all other organisational goals.

“During the construction period, our priority was industrial safety; but as we begin the physical startup, we must focus on nuclear safety,” he said.

Project officials said 56 licensed Bangladeshi engineers will work alongside Russian experts after passing the required examinations and demonstrating their competence. Around 1,100 local personnel will be engaged at the site, with more engineers and technicians in the pipeline.