The authorities of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project, including Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) received the design and construction license for its 2,400 MW nuclear power project from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA). BAERA Chairman Naiyyum Chowdhury formally handed over the license ‘with some conditions’ to the chairman of BAEC Dilip Kumar Saha at a function at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
The BAEC has been implementing the 2,400 RNPP project at a cost of $12.65 billion. Russia`s ASE Group of Companies, an engineering division of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation, is working as its contractor.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Minister of Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman said through this license, Bangladesh has entered the global nuclear club. “From tomorrow, we will start the final phase of the project. We are pursuing the best process of safety,” he said.
He seeks blessing and cooperation of the people for its smooth implementation. “After liberation, it has been the biggest task for the nation”, he added.
He said the government has successfully reached a certain point in way to the construction of RNPP project. “We are going through a transparent process and this is our main strength,” he said.
He added that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is not nearly a power generation project; rather it is a symbol of an inner power of a nation.
In the function, Science and Technology Secretary Anwar Hossain informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the construction work of the final phase of the RNPP project on November 30. The final phase work includes the civil construction for setting up the nuclear reactor.
The function, with BAERA Chairman Naiyyum Chowdhury in the chair, was also addressed by Prime Minister’s Economic Advisor Mashiur Rahman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology Ruhul Haque, Chief Coordinator of Sustainable Development Target (SDG) of Prime Minister’s Office Abul Kalam Azad and Science and Technology Secretary Anwar Hossain.
BAERA Chairman Naiyyum Chowdhury said whenever the regulatory authority finds any shortcomings in the construction work, it will ask for correction. He said nuclear regulation is must for success of a nuclear power project. In this case, the BAERA will never compromise with safety issues in the RNPP.
According to Alexander Khazin, Senior Vice President for International Projects of АSE Group of Companies, after pouring concrete into the foundation slab of the reactor compartment of the Unit 1 of the RNPP it takes about five years to build a reactor compartment.
About nine months after the first concrete ceremony, work will begin to pour concrete into the foundation slab of the turbine island, which accommodates the main power generation equipment of the power plant.
Russia is building the plant and also providing a credit of $12 billion for the 2,400-megawatt project. The first unit is expected to go into production in 2022 and the second one in 2023.
