| Work Detail |
The latest on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project
Reportedly, the first unit (Unit 1) of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to come into operation in the last quarter of 2024.
This comes approximately 5 months since workers finished concreting the containment building for the unit in March 2023. According to Rosatom, the structure took 110 days to complete, 45 days ahead of schedule. Noteworthy, the containment acts as a hermetic protection system, designed to withstand high external and internal pressures and protect against radiation release.
A year earlier, in March 2022, the welding of the main circulation pipeline connecting the reactor pressure vessel with the steam generators and the reactor coolant pumps was also completed.
Meanwhile, officials of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDP) and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) are in discussion to settle on the power tariff of the plant, when it begins operations in 2024.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project Overview
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is the first of its kind in Bangladesh. It is being constructed at Rooppur/Ruppur, adjoining Paksey, in the Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna District, on the bank of the Padma River.
The approximately US$ 12.65bn project is being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). BAEC is the national authority for the acquisition, development, and application of Nuclear Science and Technology. It is working acting under the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of Bangladesh.
Features of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be equipped with two VVER-1200 water-cooled, water-moderated power reactors of the AES-2006 / V-392M design. Each of the reactor units comprises a reactor and four circulation loops. On the other hand, each of the loops includes circulation pipelines, a reactor coolant pump, and a horizontal steam generator.
The nominal thermal power of the reactor is 3.2GW, while the maximum utilization factor is more than 90%. The time of fuel operation cycle in the reactor is between 48 and 60 months, and the main equipment of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will have a service life of more than 60 years, without the need for replacement.
In addition to the reactors, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be equipped with meteorological and water gauge stations, permanent seismic stations, as well as storage and laboratory facilities.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project Team and Completion
Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) through its subsidiary JSC Atomstroyexport, will install the rectors. Other companies working on the project include Inter RAO Engineering. The latter is carrying out pit excavation of the main buildings and the construction and erection of facilities for the plant.
Goldenberg Group of Companies is working on the civil construction and pipe laying works while Orgenergostroy carried out a comprehensive engineering survey for the plant and constructed the pilot bases and residential camps for the contractors. TVEL Fuel Company on the other hand is serving as the single-source supplier of nuclear fuel for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
The power plant is expected to be partially operational in 2023 following the commissioning of Rooppur Unit-1, and fully operational in 2024 after the delivery of the second unit. |
