Russia's Rosatom discusses construction of another phase of Rooppur NPP in Bangladesh
MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - The Rosatom state corporation is discussing with Bangladesh the construction of another phase of high-capacity units at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), company CEO Alexei Likhachev told reporters on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week forum.
"Truly, we are primarily talking about a possible additional phase of large units," he said in response to a question of exactly what is being discussed with the country regarding the expansion of cooperation.
"Although our Bangladeshi friends are also discussing small-capacity units and a research reactor with us, the main trend for future development, in my view, is increasing the capacity of the Rooppur NPP," he said.
Likhachev earlier said that the Rosatom state corporation is discussing the expansion of its nuclear project with Bangladesh and expects the first power unit of the country's NPP to reach initial power generation in late November.
In late April, Rosatom carried out the physical start-up of the first power unit at the NPP in Bangladesh.
"On April 28, 2026, the loading of fresh nuclear fuel began at Unit 1 of the Rooppur NPP [the general contractor and general designer of which is Rosatom's Engineering Division]. This was the first stage of the unit's key start-up phase," the company said in a statement.
Rosatom has been constructing the plant based on an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2011. The NPP will comprise two power units with a combined capacity of 2400 MW. Energy-deficient Bangladesh currently has no nuclear power generation.
Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation expects to begin commissioning the second power unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh next year, Likhachev told reporters.
He also said that Bangladesh is interested in other proposals from Rosatom as well. "Both the prime minister and the minister asked us about other possible proposals, particularly small nuclear power plants and floating nuclear power plants, which are included in our combined proposal from Rosatom [to other countries]," Likhachev said.
