Amid the ongoing grid shortage and heavy fuel imports, Bangladesh is racing to bring its first nuclear power plant online as the global nuclear energy industry enters a new phase of expansion, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) projecting that worldwide nuclear capacity could more than triple by 2060.
The government is now seeking IAEA support to expedite electricity supply from the Rooppur plant, where technical issues with two safety valves have delayed the commissioning of Unit 1.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam raised the issue with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in Vienna on September 17, while also stressing Bangladesh's commitment to nuclear safety and security.
Two days earlier, Bangladesh and Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom agreed to accelerate the remaining work at Rooppur to bring electricity to the national grid as quickly as possible, while maintaining international safety standards.
The latest push comes after the government acknowledged that problems with two safety valves had prevented Unit 1 from moving to the next stage of commissioning.
Russian experts are expected to assess the problem, and officials are considering either replacing the valves or using valves allocated for Unit 2, depending on which option is technically feasible and can be implemented faster.
Although the government has not given a firm date for resolving the problem, Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin said on September 16 that Rooppur is expected to supply 300 megawatts to the national grid next month, with nearly 4,000 Russian experts and engineers working to address the technical issues.
The target remains subject to completing technical work, commissioning, and regulatory requirements.
Rooppur Project Director Dr Md Kabir Hossain told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that the expert team is working to address the technical issues. Still, it is too early to say when Unit 1 will begin supplying electricity to the national grid.
“The team is working to resolve the issues. Once this stage is complete, two or three more stages of work remain. Only after those stages are completed will we be able to say when electricity can be supplied to the national grid. The expert team is working on it. This is the latest update I can give.”
However, the latest developments mark a significant transition for Bangladesh's largest power project, as fuel loading at Rooppur Unit 1 began on April 28, 2026, moving the reactor into the commissioning phase and bringing Bangladesh closer to producing nuclear electricity for the first time.
The Rooppur plant, located in Pabna, consists of two Russian-built VVER-1200 reactors, each designed to generate 1,200 MW, and together, the two units are expected to provide 2,400 MW of generating capacity.
Bangladesh is expecting the nuclear power grid at a time when the world is expecting to reach 696 GW of electricity by 2060, nearly twice the 2025 level, according to the IAEA's latest Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates.
At the end of 2025, 413 nuclear reactors were operating worldwide, with a combined capacity of 377.1 GW.
The IAEA has extended its projection horizon to 2060 for the first time, reflecting growing interest in nuclear power as countries confront rising electricity demand, energy-security concerns and the need for low-carbon generation.
Much of the projected growth is expected in Asia as the IAEA's high-growth scenario sees nuclear capacity in Central and Eastern Asia rising from 114GW in 2025 to 407GW by 2060.
The IAEA also sees a rapidly growing role for small modular reactors (SMRs).
While Rooppur is based on large 1,200MW reactors, the global nuclear industry is increasingly looking at smaller reactors.
The IAEA expects small modular reactors (SMRs) to account for up to 28% of new nuclear capacity added worldwide by 2060.
For Bangladesh, the immediate focus remains Rooppur's two large reactors, but the global shift towards SMRs could become relevant to any future expansion of the country's nuclear program.
Additionally, much of the world's nuclear fleet is aging, with about two-thirds of reactors operating for more than 30 years.
The IAEA expects many of these reactors to retire by 2060, meaning new nuclear plants will be needed not only to meet rising electricity demand but also to replace aging capacity.
In 2025 alone, seven reactors were retired, while three new ones were connected to the grid and construction began on 12 more.
As the world prepares for a new nuclear era, Rooppur will be Bangladesh’s first test of whether nuclear ambition can become reliable electricity.
Rooppur has been in Bangladesh’s nuclear plans for decades; the program gained momentum after Bangladesh signed an agreement with Russia in 2011 for cooperation on the plant, leading to the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors at the Pabna site.