Rooppur nuclear plant fire exposes gaps in safety culture
Collected Photo
A fire broke out inside the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant’s Pioneer Base early Monday morning, striking the sensitive facility before it could even be commissioned.
The incident stands in sharp contrast to the plant’s original design, which assigned importance to its firefighting and safety systems. That emphasis was so great that the primary design specified no fire incident should occur even in the Lalon Shah Bridge area, several kilometers away from the plant - and that immediate action must be taken if one did.
In line with international rules requiring safety verification prior to fuel loading in the first unit, an expert team from the IAEA inspected the Rooppur project on 10-27 August 2025 following a request from the government.
IAEA said while the project operating institution demonstrated a willingness to enhance safety, it identified several critical areas requiring recommendations. One of the three main focus areas was enhancing fire safety management and preventive measures, while the other two involved improving operational oversight standards and upgrading equipment preservation systems.
The direct impact of the IAEA’s recommendations became evident in April. According to the timeline established by the Ministry of Science and Technology, uranium fuel loading in Rooppur’s first unit was scheduled to begin on 7 April.
However, because fire safety conditions were not fulfilled, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority withheld the necessary commissioning license, preventing the process from starting on schedule.
On condition of anonymity, a source from the plant said attempts were made to proceed with fuel loading under the condition that the remaining fire safety work would be completed later. Nevertheless, prioritizing the national interest, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority stood firm on its decision.
Fuel loading then began in the first unit on 28 April, followed by a comprehensive emergency and firefighting drill conducted at the project in July. Project authorities have repeatedly assured that the plant will not enter commercial production without guaranteeing safety, maintaining that all required tests were completed before fuel loading as scheduled.
Even so, uncertainty surrounding commercial power generation persists. During fuel loading, officials announced that experimental electricity transmission to the national grid would commence in September, but recent reports indicate that goal is now uncertain due to a sensitive reactor safety valve failing repeated tests. It was amid these technical complications that Monday’s fire occurred.
Earlier, on 6 November 2025, a minor fire occurred outside the Rooppur power plant boundary alongside an artificial channel constructed to maintain the water flow of the Padma and Ichamati rivers, occurring during the clearing of dumped wooden waste.
Upon notification, Fire Service personnel extinguished the blaze, after which project authorities urged the public not to be misled by the off-site incident.
Speaking to Agamir Somoy, an expert said, “Safety culture is very important in a nuclear power project. But repeated fires like this prove that there is a lack of safety culture here. Big or small, there is no scope to neglect such repeated accidents.”
He added, “The original design of this project outlines extreme caution regarding safety, whether from man-made or natural disasters. In addition to ensuring maximum safety at the main installation, various steps are mentioned to be taken outside the vast boundary area as well.”
Citing an example, he explained that in the Lalon Shah Bridge area, precautions are required to prevent fires in petrol-carrying tankers or through any other means, with the design explicitly detailing immediate steps to take if an accident occurs. In this context, a fire within the main project area represents a violation of the protection system.
While project insiders note that the latest fire occurred at a temporary structure, the expert questioned, “This structure, built temporarily for project work, also has a specific lifespan. Has that lifespan expired? If so, why is it being used? And if not, why was not fire risk considered there - these issues need to be investigated.”
He stressed that enhancing the safety culture before loading nuclear fuel is mandatory, adding that following fuel loading at Rooppur, there is no scope for repeated accidents, making immediate learning and future preparation essential.
Under international nuclear power plant standards, operating a modern technology-driven fire station staffed by at least 200 skilled personnel is mandatory. However, no such fire station has been established at the Rooppur project yet, with operations relying on a standard fire station staffed by only 49 workers.
Attempts to contact Project Director Md Kabir Hossain for comments on the situation were unsuccessful.
According to project sources, the blaze damaged a server room of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and several adjacent rooms, burning computers, air conditioners, electrical equipment, internet server components, and project documents. By Wednesday morning, authorities initiated repair work on two damaged rooms.
An investigation committee has been formed to look into the incident, though the extent of monetary damage could not be immediately determined. Fire Service officials suspect a short circuit may have initiated the fire, with the exact cause to be confirmed following the probe.
Eyewitnesses reported that fire and smoke rapidly engulfed neighboring rooms after breaking out at Pioneer Base, prompting four units of the Ishwardi Fire Service to fight the blaze for an extended period before bringing it under control.
The incident forced a power outage at Pioneer Base and two adjacent buildings, severed internet connectivity, and cut off electricity supply to both the customs building and the canteen.
Officials emphasized that Pioneer Base serves as an auxiliary section rather than part of the main nuclear installation, adding that core project operations remain unaffected and overall activities are continuing, with power, water, and internet supplies to the main project fully operational.
They claimed that no major damage occurred and that lost documents exist in digital backups. However, analysts contend that any fire at a nuclear facility, regardless of size, demands heightened vigilance.
Ishwardi (Pabna) correspondent contributed to the report.
