Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Fuel Shipment Delayed Over Pakistan Airspace Clearance

Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, where transport disruptions have raised concerns over the movement of personnel and supplies. Photo credit: Unsplash.

 Dhaka, September 28, 2026: The delivery of nuclear fuel for Unit 2 of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has been delayed after the cargo flight carrying the shipment failed to receive the required airspace clearance, according to Bangladeshi officials.

The shipment was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on September 24, but the aircraft did not reach Bangladesh as planned. Bangladesh’s Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam told ANI that the cargo plane carrying uranium had not been granted permission to use Pakistani airspace. He said the exact reason for the clearance issue was not known.

Bangladesh had completed preparations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to receive the nuclear fuel. Sheikh Mohammed Tauhidul Islam, joint secretary at the Science and Technology Ministry, said officials were waiting at the airport when a liaison officer from Russia’s Rosatom informed them that the airspace was not clear.

Officials have not publicly established all details surrounding the airspace issue. Earlier reports said it was unclear which authority had prevented the flight from using the relevant route. Rosatom was contacted for clarification, but a response had not been received at the time of the reports.

Bangladesh now expects the shipment to be rescheduled. According to the country’s science and technology minister, Russia has indicated that the nuclear fuel could arrive during the first week of October.

The shipment is intended for the second reactor unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is being developed with technical assistance from Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Rooppur is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project. The facility consists of two VVER-1200 reactor units, with each designed to produce about 1,200 megawatts. Together, the two units are designed to provide around 2,400 MW of generating capacity. The IAEA has also identified the two Rooppur reactors as VVER-1200 units.

 The first unit has already entered the fuel-loading stage. The first core fuel for Unit 1 was previously delivered from Russia, while the latest shipment is linked to preparations for Unit 2. The IAEA has documented that the first core for Unit 1 comprised 168 fuel assemblies and about 79 tonnes of uranium.

The delay does not by itself indicate a problem with the nuclear plant or its reactor technology. At present, the issue reported by Bangladeshi officials concerns the transport route and required airspace clearance for the cargo flight.

The development also highlights the logistical challenges involved in transporting nuclear fuel internationally, where flights require careful coordination, regulatory approvals and security arrangements.

Bangladesh and Russia are expected to work on a revised transportation schedule for the Unit 2 fuel shipment. The timing of the next flight will depend on obtaining the necessary clearances for the selected route.