Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, Rooppur 1, reaches criticality
A controlled reaction has begun at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, marking a critical milestone for the country's energy supply security and technological infrastructure.
The first unit of Bangladesh's inaugural nuclear power plant, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, successfully reached the self-sustaining nuclear reaction stage, known as criticality, as of Sunday.
Critical Stage and Start Time
The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant successfully achieved criticality—a self-sustaining nuclear reaction—on Sunday afternoon at 3:34 PM. This significant milestone occurred three days after receiving approval from the country's national atomic regulator.
Next Steps and Testing Processes
Following the fulfillment of the required criteria, the testing and safety verification process will be completed, and the reactor will be tested to operate at minimum controllable capacity.
Energy Diversity and Security
In a statement shared on the project's official social media account, it was noted that this achievement represents an important step forward for Bangladesh's scientific and technological advancements, as well as its energy security.
International Contacts and Planning
The startup of the unit followed discussions held in Moscow between Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Bangladesh Minister of Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam.