Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has encountered another setback after Russia delayed the scheduled delivery of nuclear fuel for its second unit, reportedly because it failed to secure timely airspace clearance from Pakistan.
The delay has raised questions about the project's commissioning schedule, particularly as Bangladesh struggles with growing electricity shortages and increased load-shedding amid fuel supply constraints.
Pakistan, however, has denied that its decision was politically motivated, describing the matter as a technical and procedural issue involving aviation regulations and diplomatic flight clearances.
In response to the delay, Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom has announced a revised delivery schedule, with shipments of nuclear fuel for the second unit expected to arrive between October and December 2026.
The latest disruption comes as the first unit of the 2,400MW nuclear power plant is already facing technical difficulties, further complicating Bangladesh's efforts to bring the long-awaited project into commercial operation.
The reported delay in securing Pakistani airspace clearance has triggered considerable debate in Bangladesh, particularly given the recent improvement in diplomatic relations between Dhaka and Islamabad.
The issue has also drawn attention on social media, with questions being raised about Pakistan's decision and its potential implications for Bangladesh's energy security.
Responding to the controversy, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider told BBC Urdu that the country processes requests for diplomatic flights and overflight clearances under established international procedures and civil aviation protocols.
"Pakistan remains committed to international diplomatic norms and processes all requests for diplomatic flights and overflight clearances within standard timelines, fully consistent with our established guidelines and civil aviation protocols," Haider said.
He explained that flight schedules could change because of technical and procedural requirements, including coordination among relevant aviation authorities.
"The matter relates to technical and procedural arrangements concerning flight routing and airspace clearances, which may occasionally require coordination among relevant aviation and other authorities, resulting in adjustments to flight schedules," he said.
The spokesperson also emphasized that Pakistan attaches considerable importance to its relations with Bangladesh and urged observers not to interpret the incident as a political decision.
He said the issue should be viewed in its proper technical context rather than through interpretations that could undermine bilateral relations.
However, Pakistan's statement did not provide specific details about the clearance application, the reasons for the delay or whether alternative flight routes had been considered.
Following the disruption, Rosatom announced a revised schedule for delivering nuclear fuel to the second unit of the Rooppur plant.
According to the Russian state corporation, deliveries are scheduled to begin in October 2026 and continue through December. The fuel will be transported in several flights in accordance with the project's contractual obligations and implementation schedule.
The revised timeline means that the fuel shipment originally expected in September will now arrive later than planned.
Although Rosatom confirmed the revised schedule, it did not officially identify Pakistan as the country responsible for the delay.
Nuclear fuel transportation involves stringent international safety and security requirements. Such shipments require special arrangements, including diplomatic overflight clearances from countries along the flight route.
Consequently, delays in obtaining the necessary permissions can disrupt transportation schedules.
However, the availability of alternative routes and the exact circumstances behind the delay remain unclear.
The delay in the second unit's fuel delivery comes as the first unit continues to face technical challenges.
Fuel loading at the first unit officially began in April 2026, marking a major milestone in the country's first nuclear power project.
The government had expected trial electricity generation to begin in September. However, technical problems with a key reactor component have delayed commissioning.
Bangladesh is constructing the 2,400MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, with Russian financial and technical assistance.
The project consists of two units, each with a generation capacity of 1,200MW.
Under the original plan, the first unit was scheduled to begin commercial electricity generation in 2023.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, supply chain disruptions and complications in international financial transactions contributed to delays.
The nuclear fuel required for the first unit arrived in Bangladesh in 2023. Nevertheless, construction, testing and commissioning activities continued beyond the original deadline.
The project also faced criticism over the pace of implementation during the interim government's tenure following the political upheaval of August 5, 2024.
Although fuel loading at the first unit began in April this year, the latest technical difficulties have further complicated the commissioning process.
With the second unit's fuel delivery also delayed, the project's overall timeline has come under renewed scrutiny.
The latest setback comes at a challenging time for Bangladesh's power sector, which is struggling to meet electricity demand amid fuel shortages and financial constraints.
Reduced LNG imports and outstanding payments to private power producers have disrupted electricity generation.
As a result, load-shedding has increased in several parts of the country, putting additional pressure on households, businesses and industries.
The government has been counting on electricity from Rooppur to help ease the supply shortage and reduce dependence on expensive oil-fired power plants.
Once operational, each unit will have the capacity to generate 1,200MW of electricity, potentially adding significantly to the national grid.