IAEA experts assess safety at Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh

IAEA mission evaluates operational safety in Bangladesh

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that its Pre-Operational Safety Review Team has evaluated safety arrangements at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bangladesh.

According to the IAEA, the review was carried out from 10 to 27 August at the request of the Government of Bangladesh and focused on Unit 1 of the plant before commercial operation begins.

The IAEA explained that Pre-OSART missions assess safety against international standards and are designed to review facilities before fuel loading.

It added that the mission found the operator of the plant to be committed to enhancing safety performance and that recommendations were made for areas including fire safety, supervision of operations and equipment protection.

The organisation confirmed that the Rooppur plant is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility and consists of two VVER-1200 reactors, expected to provide 2400 MW(e) when fully operational.

Location and ownership of the Rooppur facility

The IAEA reported that the Rooppur NPP is located in Pabna District on the Padma River, about 160 kilometres from the capital Dhaka.

It explained that the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission owns the plant, with Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited responsible for operation.

The IAEA said Unit 1 construction began in November 2017 and Unit 2 in July 2018.

It confirmed that both units are part of Bangladesh’s introduction to nuclear energy as the country seeks to diversify its power generation.

Scope of the Pre-OSART review

The IAEA stated that the mission team assessed leadership and management for safety, operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, accident management and commissioning.

It added that the review covered training, qualifications and use of operating experience.

The organisation reported that the mission involved 14 experts from Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, the United Kingdom and the United States, with support from IAEA staff and an observer from the Russian Federation.

According to the IAEA, the team examined commissioning activities, reviewed documentation and held discussions with staff to assess performance.

Findings from the mission

The IAEA noted that the mission found staff at the plant to be professional, knowledgeable and committed to operational safety.

It reported that the team highlighted good practice in the integration of a simulator at the Rooppur Training Centre for refuelling machine operations.

Simon Morgan, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA, said: “The transition from commissioning to operations is one of the most important stages for the safe operation of a nuclear power plant.

“The team observed a commitment from the plant management to assure that all the required pre-requisites are in place to enable this transition to take place safely and in accordance with national and IAEA standards.”

Recommendations to improve safety

The IAEA explained that recommendations were provided to further enhance fire safety arrangements, improve supervision of plant operations and strengthen equipment preservation during commissioning.

It added that the findings were shared with plant management in a draft report.

The organisation confirmed that Bangladesh will be able to provide comments on the draft before the final report is issued within three months.

Md. Kabir Hossain, Project Director of the Rooppur NPP, said: “Bangladesh is committed to achieving and sustaining high standards of the operational safety and reliability of its first NPP, the Rooppur NPP.

“The country is reinforcing the high safety standards for Rooppur NPP by participating in the Pre-OSART mission to ensure compliance with IAEA safety standards for the plant’s construction and operation.

“This engagement with the Pre-OSART mission demonstrates the country’s dedication to building a safe and reliable nuclear facility and fostering a strong nuclear safety culture.

“Bangladesh views such IAEA peer review missions as a vital tool for self-assessment, allowing the country to evaluate its adherence to international safety standards and identify weaknesses in the national nuclear programme.”

Background to OSART missions

The IAEA reported that OSART missions review programmes and activities relevant to operational safety.

It clarified that such reviews are not regulatory inspections, design reviews or substitutes for full assessments of safety status.

The organisation explained that follow-up missions are normally conducted within two years to monitor progress on recommendations.

It said that IAEA safety standards provide international principles and requirements for protecting people and the environment from the effects of radiation.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The IAEA highlighted that fire safety was one of the main areas identified for improvement during the review of Rooppur NPP.

This shows that even in highly regulated sectors, fire prevention and emergency response remain critical to safe operations.

The assessment underlines the importance of external peer review and the role of safety standards in guiding operational practice.

For fire and safety professionals, the findings illustrate how nuclear facilities address fire risks within broader safety frameworks and how lessons from peer reviews may be applied to improve resilience in other high-risk environments.

IAEA experts assess safety at Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh: Summary

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carried out a Pre-Operational Safety Review Team (Pre-OSART) mission at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bangladesh.

The mission took place between 10 and 27 August at the request of the Government of Bangladesh.

The review assessed Unit 1 before the start of commercial operations.

The IAEA reported that the plant operator is committed to enhancing safety performance.

The organisation confirmed that recommendations were made on fire safety, supervision of operations and protection of equipment.

The IAEA stated that the Rooppur plant consists of two VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of 2400 MW(e).

The Rooppur NPP is owned by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and will be operated by Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited.

The mission team included 14 experts from eight countries, IAEA staff and an observer from the Russian Federation.

The team identified good practice in training, including the use of a simulator for refuelling operations.

The findings were shared with plant management in a draft report, with a final report due within three months.

The IAEA explained that OSART missions are reviews of operational safety programmes and are followed by additional missions within two years.

It added that IAEA safety standards serve as a global reference for radiation protection and safe plant operation.