A fourth shipment of uranium for the under-construction second unit of the Rooppur nuclear power plant reached the project site in Pabna’s Ishurdi on Saturday under tight security.

Project sources said the shipment arrived in Dhaka from Russia by special aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday and left for Rooppur late on Friday night in three lorries. The army, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies coordinated security for the road journey, and heavy vehicle movement on the highway was temporarily restricted to prevent congestion.

With the latest delivery, four shipments of nuclear fuel designated for the second unit have arrived.

Sources familiar with the matter said seven shipments carrying a total of 163 uranium assemblies are planned for the second unit, while two shipments carrying 48 assemblies will meet additional fuel demand for the first unit.

Uranium consignments are expected to arrive in Bangladesh from Russia on seven more aircraft in phases in November and December.

Under the contract, Russia will supply the necessary fuel for the first three years of commercial production at Rooppur. Bangladesh will then have to import the fuel from the international market at set intervals.

The plant has a total generation capacity of 2,400 MW. Its first unit has begun trial power generation, and project authorities hope to connect its electricity to the national grid by the end of December.