Bangladesh has announced its intent to construct a second nuclear power plant (NPP) in the country following the completion of its first NPP at Rooppur, construction of which is currently underway.
The Rooppur NPP is being built by Bangladesh with the assistance of the Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom, which is the equipment supplier and technical consultant for the project to build two VVER-1200 units of 1,200 MW each at Rooppur located on the eastern bank of the river Ganges.
Following a meeting earlier this week between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, the official news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported the Prime Minister as saying that “if we are able to build another nuclear power plant, we will no longer face a power crisis.”
Russian news agency Sputnik also cited the BSS, which reported that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “We are going to install another (nuclear) power plant after completion of the existing one. We will construct it in the southern region. If we are able to build another nuclear power plant, we will no longer face a power crisis.”
Earlier, both the Prime Minister and the Rosatom Director General had taken part in an event to mark the installation of the reactor pressure vessel of the first reactor unit at Rooppur. Addressing the reactor pressure vessel installation ceremony via videoconference, Sheikh Hasina said: “Today is a day of joy and pride for us as the reactor pressure vessel is being set up at unit 1 of the Rooppur nuclear plant. And by this we confirm our strong presence in the nuclear world so far as peaceful use of nuclear technology is concerned.”
“After being convinced about safety and management of nuclear waste at the meeting with President Putin in 2013, I decided to go for nuclear. As this technology doesn’t have carbon emission, hence it is eco-friendly and will help fight against adverse effects of climate change. This power station will help us achieve the (United Nations) SDG goals by 2030 in line with our development plan and facilitate graduation to a developed nation in 2041,” she added.
“The development of nuclear power generation will not only solve the problem of energy supply to Bangladesh, but will also help the development of the region and raise the living standards of people. Cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh is of a strategic nature. I am sure that Russian and Bengali specialists will have to implement more than one joint project both in the field of energy and in other areas,” Likhachev said in his address at the Rooppur site.
Both the latest generation III+ 1,200 MW power units at the Rooppur NPP will be equipped with active as well as passive safety systems, including molten core catchers. The first unit is expected to produce power in 2023 and the second in 2024. Attachments area
