Bangladesh has inked a deal with Russia for the supply of fuel for its maiden Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant that has a cumulative power capacity of 2,400 MW.
Under the deal Russia, which is the supplier of the critical equipment for the nuclear power plant, will be supplying Uranium for the entire life cycle of the plant.
The deal was inked between Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Russian Nuclear Fuel Supply Company (TVEL). The two countries had also inked an agreement for the management of the spent fuel in 2017.
The construction work for the two units of the RNPP are going on at a desired pace and the first unit is expected to be commissioned in 2023 and the second one in 2024.
A 3-meter thick foundation of the first unit’s reactor along with foundations of other infrastructures are already being laid. On August 18, 2018 the core catcher for the first unit of the RNPP was installed. The installation of the reactor building of the second unit is also underway, and the core catcher for this unit has already arrived at the plant site that is planned to be installed in April 2019.
By the end of year 2019, almost 500 personnel of Nuclear Power Plant Company of Bangladesh will complete their training to operate the RNPP.
A total of four 20-story buildings are being constructed to accommodate the Bangladeshi and Russian personnel working in the RNPP project. Besides, the Public Works Department is planning to hand over 16 more multi-story buildings for the RNPP personnel.
