Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant began controlled power-startup testing on Friday, October 30, after regulators cleared Rooppur Unit 1 to enter the next commissioning phase. The 1,200-megawatt reactor in Ishwardi, Pabna, is undergoing a gradual power increase and turbine checks, moving the country closer to its first nuclear electricity supply. It has not yet been approved to deliver electricity to the national grid.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority approved Stage C on October 29. Unit 1 began the process at approximately 12:03 p.m. local time October 30, according to plant managing director Md Zahedul Hasan, quoted by The Daily Star. Engineers are raising reactor temperature and pressure to produce steam, test turbine-generator controls and verify electrical and protection systems.

Rosatom’s May 2026 project report documents fuel loading and preparation for the first reactor startup. This is earlier footage, not the October 30 test.

A 300 MW checkpoint before grid connection

The plant’s next major checkpoint is 300 MW of generation. Regulators say additional inspection and authorization will be required before electricity can flow into Bangladesh’s transmission system. Generated power is being used for internal plant activities during initial testing; grid synchronization, trial supply and regular commercial operation are separate milestones. Officials have discussed a trial connection within weeks, but the schedule is contingent on successful tests.

Rooppur is being built by Russia’s Rosatom using two VVER-1200 pressurized-water reactors. Together, the units have a 2,400 MW design capacity; Unit 2 has not begun commercial electricity production. The project, estimated at roughly $12.65 billion, is intended to diversify a power system that relies heavily on imported fuel and fossil-fired generation.

Bangladesh enters the final commissioning sequence

Uranium fuel was loaded into Unit 1 in April, followed by criticality and other tests before the October power-startup phase. This is a significant national milestone, but officials still must demonstrate stable operation of the reactor, steam system, turbine-generator and grid interface under progressively higher loads.

Channel 24’s April 2026 coverage of uranium fuel loading at Rooppur, a prerequisite to the present reactor power-startup tests.

The distinction between new nuclear capacity announcements and operational grid supply matters for energy planners. Rooppur has crossed a critical technical milestone, but the full 2.4 GW project cannot yet be counted as delivered generation. The next verified event will be regulatory clearance for trial grid synchronization after the required tests.

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