Which country’s objection delayed Rooppur’s nuclear fuel
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Nuclear fuel designated for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh could not arrive from Russia on schedule. Despite all preparations being in place, the problem occurred because permission to use the airspace of a particular country was not granted.
The special cargo flight carrying the nuclear fuel was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka last Thursday. However, the flight was canceled at the last moment. Russia is now trying to send the fuel next month through a different route that avoids the airspace of that country.
This has brought international air routes and diplomatic clearances into renewed focus in connection with the fuel supply for the country’s first nuclear power plant.
Sources at the Ministry of Science and Technology said the sensitive nuclear fuel is transported in special aircraft cargo under strict security measures. Permission must also be obtained from the countries over which the chartered aircraft will fly. The fuel could not arrive on schedule because that permission was not obtained.
Agamir Somoy could not officially confirm which route the cargo scheduled to arrive on Thursday was supposed to use or which country had not granted permission to use its airspace. No statement from project officials on the matter could be obtained.
However, two reliable sources told Agamir Somoy that chartered aircraft carrying such shipments from Russia generally travel to Bangladesh through Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. After taking off from Russia, the aircraft reaches India without a stop and refuels there before entering Bangladesh. There are indications that the same route was supposed to be used this time as well.
A former official of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission said that before transporting nuclear fuel from Russia, approval is required from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Bangladesh Nuclear Regulatory Authority. Permission to use the airspace of the countries over which the shipment will travel is also required. In this case, “nuclear diplomacy” is very important. Diplomatic relations between Russia or Bangladesh and those countries need to be good. If relations with any one country are not good, that country may raise an objection. There may also be delays in obtaining permission to use the airspace if Bangladesh does not provide the required clearance on time.
Project sources said the nuclear fuel was initially scheduled to arrive in June. After the deadline was postponed twice, 24 September was set as the final date. The fuel was loaded onto the designated aircraft in Russia for this purpose. Bangladesh had also made the necessary preparations. However, at the last moment that night, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom informed the Bangladeshi side that the shipment would be delayed. However, it said this would not disrupt the project work. There is still considerable time before the work on the second unit is completed and the fuel is loaded.
It has been learned that Russia is now considering using a different route because of complications over airspace access. In that case, the fuel could arrive through China and Myanmar. Rosatom could also use another route.
Analysts said relations between Russia and China are currently quite close. Rosatom is also working on nuclear infrastructure in Myanmar. China and Myanmar also have diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. Therefore, using this route could help avoid the previous complications. However, which route will ultimately be used will depend on permission from the countries concerned and the security situation.
The former Atomic Energy Commission official said similar complications could arise in the future when nuclear waste or spent fuel produced at the power plant is sent back to Russia after the plant begins operation. Russia now needs to obtain permission to use the airspace. At that time, Bangladesh will have to obtain such permission. Bangladesh will also have to import new fuel from Russia or another country in the future.
According to him, the necessary international agreements, timely clearances and diplomatic preparations for such transportation should be ensured from now on. Fuel supply for a nuclear power plant is not only a technical matter. International relations and diplomacy are also directly connected to it.
Project officials said Rosatom is planning to send the fuel again next month. A total of 163 fuel assemblies are expected to arrive through seven flights by December. Some fuel for the first unit will also arrive during this period along with fuel for the second unit.
Although the fuel for the first unit has already been loaded, one fourth of this fuel will have to be replaced after one and a half years. This is why the fuel for the first unit is being brought in advance.
Under the agreement, Russia will supply fuel for the first three years. After that, the fuel will have to be replaced at a fixed rate every two years and Bangladesh will import the fuel at that stage.
To avoid risks, nuclear fuel arrives at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on special aircraft under strict security measures. From there, it is transported to Rooppur under tight security with the involvement of the army and relevant authorities.
Built with financial and technical assistance from Russia, the country’s first nuclear power plant has two units with equal capacity using advanced technology. Their combined electricity generation capacity is 2,400 megawatts. The first unit was expected to begin generation after fuel loading. However, the timeline has been pushed back due to various complications. The plant was most recently expected to start supplying electricity this month. However, this did not happen due to a defect in a safety valve. A team of experts from Russia is working to repair the defect. Some spare parts have also been brought from Russia for this purpose. No one could confirm when electricity from the plant will be connected to the national grid after the defect is repaired.
