Dhaka expert urges caution ahead of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant fuel loading

New Delhi — As Bangladesh prepares to begin fuel loading at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on April 7, a Dhaka-based academic has cautioned that the country must prioritise safety, technical preparedness, and institutional capacity, according to a report.

Writing in The Daily Star, Kamrul Hassan Mamun noted that fuel loading is one of the most delicate phases in a reactor’s lifecycle. He stressed that even minor lapses in radiation control, safety protocols, or technological reliability could have severe consequences.

To highlight the risks, Mamun referenced the Chernobyl disaster and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, saying such rare but catastrophic failures demonstrate the need for the highest standards of oversight and competence in nuclear power projects.

The professor also raised concerns about Bangladesh relying heavily on foreign loans, companies, and technical expertise for the project. He argued that most countries develop strong domestic scientific and technological bases — including skilled engineers and regulators — before entering the nuclear power sector. Without this foundation, such projects risk remaining imported technologies rather than integrated national capabilities.

Another issue he highlighted was the challenge of integrating a large reactor — typically producing around 1,000 megawatts — into a relatively weak power grid. He explained that electricity systems require careful balance between supply and demand, and sudden injection or loss of large power sources could destabilise the network. Unlike gas or hydropower plants, nuclear reactors cannot easily ramp output up or down to manage fluctuations.

Mamun also pointed to the need for robust transmission infrastructure to carry electricity from Rooppur to major load centres. Weak transmission lines, he warned, could limit the plant’s efficiency and create operational challenges.

Emphasising long-term capacity building, he cited India’s nuclear journey, referencing pioneers like Homi Jehangir Bhabha, who helped establish the country’s scientific foundation. He also mentioned later contributors such as Vikram Sarabhai and R. Chidambaram as examples of sustained domestic expertise.

Mamun concluded that the success of the Rooppur project will depend not just on operating the reactor, but on whether Bangladesh can build strong universities, skilled manpower, resilient grids, and effective regulatory institutions. Without these, he cautioned, imported technology alone cannot secure a nation’s scientific and energy future.

With inputs from IANS