Rooppur Nuclear Project: Fuel Arrives Amid Skyrocketing Costs, Uncertain Power, and Debt Traps for Bangladesh

By Asif Showkat Kallol (Dhaka Bureau) Bangladesh’s costliest and most ambitious infrastructure project- the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant- is inching toward its inaugural electricity generation. With uranium fuel assemblies from Russia now arriving on-site, the project is transitioning from construction to commissioning and long-term operation. However, this milestone is overshadowed by surging costs, delays, and deep economic uncertainty regarding energy security. Officials remain unable to say when regular electricity will actually flow into the national grid. Production Stages and Slow Progress The project’s first unit is comparatively further ahead. Government reports indicate that its completion stands at 98 percent, having cleared a critical fuel-related milestone. The commissioning process follows four distinct phases: pre-commissioning, hot commissioning, criticality with low-power tests, and grid synchronization. While the first two phases have concluded, engineers are currently navigating the final two. Planners intend to synchronize approximately 300MW initially, progressively scaling output to 1,200MW over an estimated four to six weeks. Experts emphasize, however, that none of these individual steps constitute commercial production. Meanwhile, the second unit lags behind, with civil works at 91% and equipment installation at 82%. Skyrocketing Costs and Extended Timelines Originally designed to deliver 2,400MW across two VVER-1200 units, the project has seen its deadline pushed back from December 2025 to June 2028. Concurrently, the approved cost has climbed from Tk113,092 crore to Tk138,685 crore-a roughly 23% spike, or an additional Tk25,593 crore. While project authorities attribute the budget escalation to the depreciation of the local taka against the US dollar and insist that the $12.65bn contract with Russia remains unchanged, the transparency of financial outlays over the past year and a half remains questioned. For an energy-starved nation, such delays transcend poor project management, directly threatening state finances and national energy security. Pricing Dilemmas and Public Impact The true cost of nuclear power remains shrouded in ambiguity. Although Rooppur’s director previously pegged direct generation costs at Tk4.31 per kilowatt-hour, the Bangladesh Power Development Board’s preliminary tariff projection sits at Tk6.72, omitting several long-term expenses. A peer-reviewed independent 2026 study factoring in capital, financing, operations, fuel, waste management, and decommissioning for both units calculated an average levelised cost of $84 per megawatt-hour. At the prevailing exchange rate, this translates to roughly Tk10.34 per unit, with the break-even level ($97) reaching Tk11.94. Based on these figures, a cost-reflective bulk tariff is projected to land between Tk10 and Tk12 per unit, spelling further pressure on public living costs. The Looming Debt Trap Roughly 90% of the project’s financing- about $11.38bn- comes via Russian loans. Under the revised agreement, repayment is scheduled to begin in September 2028 across 38 half-yearly installments. Spread evenly over 19 years, principal repayment alone will demand approximately $599m annually. Operating at 85% capacity, the two units would generate roughly 17.9bn kilowatt-hours annually, meaning principal repayment alone accounts for about Tk4.10 per unit- even before factoring in interest or pass-through charges. Although talks on rescheduling the loan are ongoing, the incoming repayment pressure threatens to strain an already fragile national economy. Safety, Oversight, and Human Elements Workforce transitions are also underway. Out of 2,900 approved posts, 1,928 positions have been filled, with 1,290 trained personnel ready. While site headcount peaked at 24,000 during active construction, it has dropped to around 12,000- a standard shift toward operational phases. Dhaka has proposed three service contracts with Russia covering operational support, maintenance, and long-term spare parts. International oversight remains rigorous, with an IAEA EPREV mission scheduled for November 2026 and an INIR Phase 3 review in December 2026. Coordination with inland waterway authorities continues regarding water intake and river navigability. While the arrival of nuclear fuel and 98% completion mark a tangible milestone, the true measure of success will rest on whether Rooppur can deliver safe, steady power without compounding the financial and social burdens of the public. Asif Showkat Kallol: Asif Shawkat Kallol is the Head of News at Germany-based online newspaper Mirror Asia and a contributing writer for the international press agency Pressenza. With more than 25 years of experience, this journalist has worked for several of Bangladesh’s leading English-language newspapers, including New Age, Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Sun, and The Business Standard. He has a particular interest in Indigenous cultures and regularly writes on business and economic issues for both domestic and international newspapers.

Pressenza বাংলাদেশ