Dhaka, Bangladesh
Pakistan has reportedly denied permission for a flight carrying nuclear fuel from Russia to Bangladesh to pass through its airspace. The decision has delayed the delivery of the first consignment of nuclear fuel for Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
The development comes at a time when Bangladesh has been taking steps to strengthen its relations with Pakistan.
Bangladesh’s Minister for Science and Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, confirmed the development. He said Pakistan had not granted permission for the flight to use its airspace, although no reason was provided for the decision.
First Consignment Was Scheduled to Arrive on September 24
The first consignment of nuclear fuel for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on September 24.
The planned flight route was expected to pass through Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India before reaching Dhaka. However, the flight could not follow the planned route after Pakistan denied permission to use its airspace.
According to Bangladeshi officials, all necessary arrangements had been completed at the airport for the arrival of the nuclear fuel. Around the same time, Russia’s state nuclear energy company Rosatom reportedly informed authorities that the flight had not received clearance to pass through Pakistani airspace.
Nuclear Fuel to Be Transported Through an Alternative Route
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being constructed by Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, which is also responsible for supplying nuclear fuel to Bangladesh.
Following the denial of Pakistani airspace access, Rosatom has planned to use an alternative route to transport the nuclear fuel. According to reports, the next shipment is expected to be sent in October.
The company has also indicated that the remaining nuclear fuel will be transported to Bangladesh through seven separate cargo flights by December.
Rosatom has said that despite the change in transportation arrangements, the scheduled timeline of the Rooppur nuclear power project is not expected to be affected.
Development Significant Amid Bangladesh-Pakistan Relations
The incident has also attracted attention in the context of Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. Bangladesh has recently been seeking to strengthen ties with Pakistan, making the denial of airspace to a Russian flight carrying nuclear fuel an issue of diplomatic interest.
However, Pakistan has not publicly provided a reason for refusing permission for the flight to use its airspace.
For now, arrangements are being made to transport the nuclear fuel through an alternative route. Based on the available information, the change in route is not expected to affect the overall timeline of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
