Rooppur Unit Completes Physical Tests, Awaits Approval

All physical tests under the B-2 phase of Unit 1 at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant have been completed successfully, and the final report on the test results and progress has been submitted to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA). The unit can enter the C phase once the regulator grants final approval, paving the way for the next steps towards electricity generation.

Project sources said preparations were underway to begin initial power-generation activities around October 25, subject to regulatory approval. The timing of the start-up will depend on the regulator’s decision and the successful completion of subsequent tests.

Meanwhile, a high-level Russian delegation met Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam after inspecting progress at the Rooppur plant. The delegation briefed the minister on the first unit’s initial criticality stage and the latest progress in construction.

The Russian Embassy in Dhaka disclosed the information in a statement on Friday, October 23.

According to the statement, the delegation visited Bangladesh from October 20 to 23. It was led by Andrey Petrov, Rosatom’s first deputy director general for nuclear energy and president of Atomstroyexport (ASE). Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin also participated in various discussions during the visit.

The delegation inspected overall progress at the plant and held several meetings with officials concerned.

The meeting with the science and technology minister was attended by ministry secretary Md Anwar Hossain and senior officials from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL). The Russian Embassy said the discussions covered the project’s joint work plan and strategic steps for the near future.

NPCBL Managing Director Dr Md Zahedul Hasan said all physical tests under Unit 1’s B-2 phase had been completed successfully. The final report was submitted to BAERA on Wednesday, October 21. Once the regulator approves it, Unit 1 will enter the C phase and preparations for power generation will advance, he said.

He added that electricity generation would initially begin on a limited scale. Output would gradually increase in line with successful progress through each stage.

Project engineers expect electricity to be connected to the national grid when generation reaches 30 to 35 percent of the plant’s total capacity. If testing is completed and regulatory approval is secured on schedule, at least 300 megawatts from Unit 1 could be supplied to the national grid by the end of this year.

//DBTech/ASR/MIS/MVNO//