Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Nuclear power plant in Ishwardi Upazila, Bangladesh.
Rooppur comprises two VVER-1200 reactors along the Padma River, 160 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, producing 2400 megawatts of electricity together. The entire complex spreads over a secured site with cooling systems, control buildings and infrastructure for running the two units that operate side by side.
The first discussions about this power station appeared in 1961, the site was chosen in 1963, yet actual construction began only in November 2017 after agreements with Russia. The first fuel delivery reached the site several decades after the original plans, marking the transition from planning to real operation.
The project marks the start of nuclear power in Bangladesh, changing how the country generates energy. It shows a technical shift in South Asia and represents the move away from earlier power plants that run on coal, gas or water.
The site sits on the right bank of the Padma, reachable by road from nearby towns, and follows strict access rules due to security requirements. Visits are only possible with prior authorization, so check with the relevant authorities before traveling to the facility.
Under an agreement with Rosatom, all spent fuel from Rooppur returns to Russia for reprocessing, handling the entire fuel cycle outside the country. This arrangement relieves Bangladesh from building its own facilities to store or process nuclear waste.
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