Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Faulty Safety Valves Delay Electricity Supply

Prothom Alo English, Dhaka — Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam has said the timeline for starting power supply from the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to the national grid is being pushed back due to problems with safety valves — a delay that affects Bangladesh's first nuclear power project and its broader energy security strategy.

The minister made the remarks at a press conference at ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Thursday afternoon (3 September 2026). The press conference was organised to highlight the major achievements of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology during the BNP government's first 180 days in office.

⚠️ Safety Valve Problem Details

Fakir Mahbub Anam said preparatory tests began on 28 April 2026 at the plant's first unit ahead of fuel loading. At that stage, the target was to begin supplying electricity to the national grid within four to six months. Tests have now been completed through several stages, with Stage B completed. However, the plant cannot proceed to Stage C because of problems with two safety valves.

• 📅 Tests began: 28 April 2026
• 📅 Original target: 4-6 months to electricity supply
• ✅ Stage B: completed
• ⚠️ Stage C: blocked by two faulty safety valves
• 📅 Current status: no specific timeline for commissioning

🇷🇺 Russian Expert Team to Assess

Asked when repairs to the safety valves would be completed and when commissioning of the first unit would begin, the minister could not provide a specific date. "We cannot say anything specific at this moment. A team of experts will come from Russia to determine why the safety valves are not working. The actual cause of the problem will be known after their examination and assessment," he said.

🔄 Two Options Under Consideration

The minister said the project designer's assessment indicated that the two safety valves might need to be completely replaced. Two options are being considered:

• 🔄 Option 1: take the valves allocated for the second unit and install them in the first unit
• 🔄 Option 2: ask the Russian vendor to manufacture and supply new valves as quickly as possible

The minister said whichever option is faster and more practical would be chosen — reflecting the government's urgency to bring the first unit online amid the broader energy crisis.

⚡ Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Context

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is Bangladesh's first nuclear power facility, built by Russia's Rosatom:

• ⚡ Total capacity: 2,400 MW (2 units x 1,200 MW each)
• ⚡ First unit: 1,200 MW (delayed by safety valve issue)
• ⚡ Second unit: 1,200 MW (under construction)
• 🇷🇺 Built by: Rosatom (Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation)
• 💰 Financing: Russian credit + government funds
• 📅 Location: Rooppur, Pabna

🌏 Strategic Context: Energy Crisis

The Rooppur delay comes amid Bangladesh's broader energy crisis:

• ⚡ 62 power plants faced generation disruption in late August 2026
• ⚡ 660 textile mills affected by gas shortage since July 2026
• 💰 FY26 petroleum import bill: $10.63 billion (up 107% YoY)
• 💰 LNG price: risen from $22-24 to $28 per unit
• 💰 Crude oil: risen from $70-75 to $95 per barrel
• 💰 Rampal solar plant: 442MW replacing cancelled coal unit
• 💰 Govt diverting dev budget: Tk 10 billion for rooftop solar
• 💰 US nuclear cooperation: SMR discussions (separate FE report)
• 💰 New oil refinery: ERL-2 with IsDB $1 billion (separate PA report)

📊 Strategic Implications

The Rooppur safety valve delay carries several strategic implications:

• ⚠️ First nuclear power delayed: Bangladesh's maiden nuclear project faces setback
• ⚠️ Energy crisis compounded: Rooppur was expected to add baseload capacity
• ⚠️ Russian dependency: safety valve replacement depends on Russian vendor
• ⚠️ Timeline uncertainty: no specific commissioning date
• ⚠️ Stage C blocked: cannot proceed to fuel loading stage
• ✅ Two remediation options: transfer from second unit or new manufacture
• ✅ Pragmatic approach: whichever is faster will be chosen
• ✅ Russian expert team: coming to assess root cause
• ⚠️ Second unit impact: if valves transferred, second unit delayed

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant safety valve delay represents a significant setback for Bangladesh's nuclear energy ambitions — pushing back the commissioning of the country's first nuclear reactor at a time when the broader energy crisis demands additional baseload power capacity. The outcome of the Russian expert team's assessment, and the choice between the two remediation options (transferring second unit valves or manufacturing new ones), will determine the timeline for bringing the first 1,200 MW unit online — a critical milestone for Bangladesh's energy security through the LDC graduation transition period beginning November 2026.