Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 29, The operator of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh, located 160 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring a safe transition from commissioning to operations, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team. The Pre-Operational Safety Review Team (Pre-OSART) mission, conducted from August 10 to 27, 2025, at the request of the Bangladesh government, assessed the safety of Unit 1, which is nearing commercial operation.

The 14-member team, comprising experts from Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, the UK, and the USA, along with IAEA staff and a Russian observer, evaluated operational practices in areas such as leadership, training, maintenance, radiation protection, and emergency preparedness. The team highlighted the Rooppur Training Centre’s use of an advanced simulator for training refueling machine operators as a best practice to be shared globally.

Recommendations included strengthening fire prevention and response measures, enhancing operational oversight and standards, and improving equipment preservation during commissioning to ensure system reliability. The IAEA noted that plant staff displayed professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to safety, with productive technical discussions fostering knowledge exchange.

Simon Morgan, IAEA Senior Nuclear Safety Officer, stated: “The transition from commissioning to operations is one of the most important stages for the safe operation of a nuclear power plant. The team observed a commitment from the plant management to assure that all the required pre-requisites are in place to enable this transition to take place safely and in accordance with national and IAEA standards.”

Kabir Hossain, Project Director of the Rooppur NPP, said: “Bangladesh is committed to achieving and sustaining high standards of the operational safety and reliability of its first nuclear power plant. This engagement with the Pre-OSART mission demonstrates the country's dedication to building a safe and reliable nuclear facility and fostering a strong nuclear safety culture. Bangladesh views such IAEA peer review missions as a vital tool for self-assessment, allowing the country to evaluate its adherence to international safety standards and identify weaknesses in the national nuclear programme.”

The Rooppur project, managed by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and supported by Russia’s Rosatom since a 2011 agreement, features two VVER-1200 reactors. Construction began in November 2017 for Unit 1 and July 2018 for Unit 2, with a $12.65 billion contract signed in 2015. The first nuclear fuel delivery occurred in October 2023, and Unit 1’s turbine installation and hydraulic tests were completed in March 2025, targeting grid connection in 2025.