Rooppur nuclear fuel transport disrupted as Pakistan denies airspace clearance, ANI reports

Uranium transport for the country’s first Nuclear Power Plant has been disrupted after Pakistan denied airspace clearance, Indian news agency ANI reported.

A cargo plane carrying nuclear fuel for Unit 2 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was scheduled to arrive on September 24, but it has not arrived yet because of airspace blockage, ANI said in a report published on Monday.

“The flight was not given permission to use Pakistani airspace, so the uranium did not arrive in Bangladesh as planned. As of now, the exact reason for Pakistan not granting the airspace clearance is still unknown", Faqir Mahbub Anam, Bangladesh's Minister for Science and Technology, told ANI over the phone.

"A new date has been proposed, with Russia indicating the first week of October for the uranium to arrive in Bangladesh", he added.

"We had completed all the preparations at the airport and were waiting, but the liaison officer from Rosatom told us that the airspace was not clear. So we couldn't send it. It may need to be rescheduled", Sheikh Mohammed Tauhidul Islam, Joint Secretary to the Bangladesh Science and Technology told ANI.

The 2400 MW power plant is being built with support from Russia’s Rosatom along the banks of Padma in Ishwardi, Pabna.