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Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Ishwardi

The government of Bangladesh is building its first nuclear power plant in Rooppur on the east side of the river Padma near Ishwardi in the Pabna district of Bangladesh.

Nuclear power plant

Rooppur, Ishwardi, Pabna, Bangladesh

Expected Commissioning

First unit: 2024; second unit: 2025

Estimated Investment

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission

Reactor Supplier

The government of Bangladesh is building its first nuclear power plant in Rooppur on the east side of the river Padma, near Ishwardi in the Pabna district of Bangladesh.

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The project is being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), under the guidance of the science and technology ministry of the government of Bangladesh. The nuclear power plant (NPP) will include two units, Rooppur Unit-1 and Rooppur Unit-2, each with a capacity of 1.2GW.

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The foundation stone for the Rooppur NPP was laid in October 2013 and the first concrete for the main construction phase was poured in November 2017. The main construction of Unit-2 began in July 2018, with the pouring of the first concrete.

The installation of the reactor pressure vessel for Unit-2 was completed in October 2022 and the outside containment concreting for Rooppur Unit-1 was completed in March 2023.

The two units are scheduled for commissioning in 2024 and 2025.

The Rooppur NPP will use cutting-edge technologies and will follow the safety guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA supported Bangladesh in the assessment of sites and the development of a radioactive waste management system for its nuclear power programme.

The project will provide low-cost electricity to more 1.5 million families and create new jobs in Bangladesh . The country’s power production currently exceeds 4GW a year. The new plant will increase production and enable Bangladesh to achieve energy independence.

Rooppur nuclear power plant details

Rooppur NPP will be equipped with two VVER-1200 water-cooled, water-moderated power reactors of the AES-2006/V-392M design.

Each reactor unit comprises a reactor and four circulation loops. Each loop 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 utilisation factor is above 90%. The duration of the fuel operation cycle in the reactor is between four and five years.

The Rooppur NPP’s main equipment will have a service life of more than 60 years.

The plant will also include meteorological and water gauge stations and permanent seismic stations, as well as storage and laboratory facilities.

Rooppur NPP construction details

The plant’s preparatory construction was carried out in 2015-16. It included the construction of amenities and office buildings, roads, security fences and storage facilities.

The main construction works included excavation, the installation of a pit water removal system, the development of a pit for units one and two, soil stabilisation works and foundations for both reactor units.

In March 2018, a trilateral agreement was signed to allow Indian companies to take part in construction and installation works for the project. Indian firms can also supply non-critical equipment, according to a memorandum of understanding.

The reactor pressure vessel for Rooppur Unit-1 was installed in October 2021, with the concreting of the inner containment dome completed in July 2022. Concreting of the inner containment dome for Rooppur Unit-2 began in August 2022, with the installation of the reactor pressure vessel completed two months later.

Russia agreed to provide a $500m loan to Bangladesh for the project’s on-site engineering studies, project development and personnel training.

Rooppur NPP safety features

The Rooppur NPP incorporates defence-in-depth protection. This is a multi-layer protection and mitigation system capable of mitigating any accident and ensuring the safety of the environment.

The system includes five layers of barriers to prevent radiation exposure.

Rooppur nuclear power plant contractors

JSC Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Rosatom, was appointed as a general contractor for the project by BAEC. The contract includes the supply of equipment, materials and nuclear fuel, as well as providing training to the project management team.

A $79.3m contract was awarded to Inter RAO Engineering for pit excavation of the main buildings and construction of facilities for the plant.

The Goldenberg Group of Companies was awarded the civil construction and pipe-laying works contract.

Orgenergostroy carried out a comprehensive engineering survey for the plant and constructed the pilot bases and residential camps for the contractors.

The power plant will use TZV-1200-2 steam turbine generators developed and manufactured by Power Machines, a power engineering company based in Russia.

Russian firm TVEL Fuel Company received a contract to serve as the single-source supplier of nuclear fuel for the nuclear power project in August 2019.

Chinese construction equipment company SANY provided tower cranes and trailer pumps for the construction of the plant.

Paharpur Cooling Towers, a company based in India, was contracted by Atomstroyexport to construct two natural draught cooling towers for the project.

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Rooppur Nuclear Power Project

Rooppur nuclear power project is a 2.4GW pressurized water reactor (PWR) facility under construction on the eastern side of the Ganges in the Pabna district of Bangladesh. Being built with Russian support, it will be the country’s first nuclear power plant.

Project Type

Nuclear power plant

Rooppur, Bangladesh

Design Life

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC)

Reactor Supplier

Epc contractor.

Atomstroyexport (ASE)

Estimated to cost $13.34bn, the project is being undertaken by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).

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The first concrete for the Rooppur Unit-1 was poured in November 2017, while that for the Unit-2 was poured in July 2018.

The first unit of the plant is scheduled for commissioning 2023, while the second unit is expected to start operations in 2024.

To be operated with a minimum utilization factor of 92%, the Rooppur NPP will support base-load power generation in the country, over its estimated operational life of 50 years.

Rooppur power plant location and background

The project is located in the Rooppur village, approximately 160km from the country’s capital Dhaka and 27km away from the nearby town Pabna.

Although the Rooppur nuclear power plant was originally planned in the 1960’s, the project took off only after a strategic co-operation agreement for the development was signed between the Russian Federation and the Government of Bangladesh in November 2011.

Detailed engineering design and site preparatory works for the project were completed by the end of 2013.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) issued license for the design and construction of the Rooppur units one and two in November 2017 and July 2018, respectively.

Rooppur power plant make-up and safety features

The Rooppur nuclear power facility will comprise two VVER pressurized water reactor (PWR) units of 1,200MW gross capacity each. Each unit will consist of a pressurized water-cooled power reactor with four circulation loops and a horizontal steam generator to drive the steam turbines inside the turbine building.

Uranium-235 enriched up to 5% will be used as fuel inside the reactor core, which will be enclosed within a steel-lined cylindrical pressure vessel.

Further, the reactor pressure vessel will be enclosed within a steel lined inner containment and two layers of concrete containment of 1.5m and 0.5m thickness, respectively.

Safety features of the reactors include boron injection systems for emergency shutdown, molten catcher, gas removal and spray systems, along with overpressure protection measures, as well as emergency power supply with the help of a standby diesel power generator. The plant uses gadolinium oxide with natural content of isotopes as the integrated burnable absorber.

Power transmission

The electricity generated at the NPP will be transmitted through a 609km-long 400kV double-circuit power transmission line connecting Bogra, Gopalganj, Dhaka and Dhamrai, and a 60km-long 230kV double-circuit connecting Rooppur and Baghabari.

Estimated to cost $1.3bn, the transmission infrastructure for the project will also include three substations and 12 bay extensions.

The Russian Federation agreed to provide an initial loan assistance of $500m towards the preparatory stage construction activities of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in July 2013. Russia agreed to provide another $11.38bn for the main construction works of the plant, in July 2016.

Contractors involved

Atomstroyexport (ASE), a subsidiary of Rosatom, was appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project in December 2015.

Orgenergostroy was subcontracted for conducting engineering survey of the plant and for the construction of pilot bases and accommodation camps.

The construction contractors engaged for the project include Inter RAO Engineering, Goldenberg Group of Companies, and Hindustan Construction Company.

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Article Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. An overview of the Rooppur NPP project
• 3. The rationale for the NPP project
• 4. Concerns over the Rooppur NPP project
• 5. Building an NPP in the present world context
• 6. The other options available
• 7. Conclusion
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The Rooppur nuclear power plant: is Bangladesh really ready for nuclear power?

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Ishrak Ahmed Siddiky, The Rooppur nuclear power plant: is Bangladesh really ready for nuclear power?, The Journal of World Energy Law & Business , Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2015, Pages 20–25, https://doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwu040

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Bangladesh has recently decided to build the country’s first nuclear power plant in the western region of Rooppur, despite strong public opinion against it. The Bangladeshi government argues that the project is necessary to diversify the country’s energy mix to improve electricity generation capacity. This commentary explores the Rooppur nuclear power plant project and argues that there are serious concerns about the project that should be taken into account by the Bangladeshi government and that there are other options available to diversify the energy mix. The author recommends that Bangladesh is not yet ready for nuclear power as sufficient technical and regulatory expertise and improvement of infrastructure is required before the country can go nuclear.

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Evaluating the Rooppur nuclear power plant

Is nuclear powered electricity a sustainable option for Bangladesh? This is the first part of a two-part op-ed

On September 27, 2017 Bangladesh signed the United Nations’ nuclear disarmament treaty outlawing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Bangladesh signed an agreement in August 2017 to send spent nuclear fuel to Russia for its management. Apparently, the two agreements would earn the country confidence of other countries that it has no intention to enrich uranium through recycling the spent nuclear fuel to be produced from its power plant. 

Recycling such spent fuel is one of the options some other countries use to develop nuclear weapons. But no doubt it is again an expensive way to earn the confidence. Having the facilities to recycle the spent nuclear fuel could help Bangladesh develop fuel fabrication facilities for its power plants and that could save significant amounts of money in foreign currency every year and could increase the level of energy security of the country.

The contract to send spent nuclear fuel to Russia also earned confidence of local critics of the nuclear power project as they had been opposing the project, arguing that management of nuclear waste was risky for a country like Bangladesh. The critics have other points including shortcomings in economic and infrastructural capabilities in developing a large-scale nuclear infrastructure like the Rooppur nuclear power plant.

It has become a big question whether a country like Bangladesh could afford a $13.21 billion project under 90% of Russia’s supplier’s credit with 1.75% interest plus LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate). As of an estimate prepared by the economic relations division under the finance ministry, Bangladesh would have to pay up to $8bn in interest against the Russian credit of $11.385bn for the main construction of the power plant.

The government has also started repayment of the $500m Russian credit invested in the preparatory works to facilitate the main construction of the power plant. It signed the $500m credit agreement in January 2013 and the $11.385bn credit agreement in July 2016. 

The Bangladeshi government will repay the $11.385bn Russian credit with interest in 40 equal installments. and it gets 30 years with a 10-year grace period for the repayment. The country’s own investment in the power project alone would be $1.32bn over the project’s implementation period in two phases -- preparatory phase until 2017 and the construction phase until 2025 as the construction phase included provisional operation period of the two-unit power plant until final takeover scheduled for 2025.

Local experts fear that the Rooppur nuclear power project would cost much higher as they believe that the project implementation would be delayed significantly. The local experts’ concerns were echoed in the world nuclear industry’s status report published in September this year. All 53 under-construction nuclear reactors are behind schedule. The pressure of repayment might leave the future government no options but to slash budget allocation for more fundamental projects like health, education, and disaster management. 

Finally, the price of electricity from the Rooppur nuclear power plant will be beyond the affordability of the power consumers. The officials related to the project, however, asserted on several occasions that the electricity price will be much less than that produced from coal-fire. Additionally, the government finds no problems in repayment of the credit as the country’s economy and the government’s financial capability would grow significantly in the next 10 years before the repayment of $11.385bn matures.

The debate in financing capacity and long-term impact of heavy debt on Bangladesh’s economy also included the potential rise in electricity price to be generated at the Rooppur nuclear power plant. Although the BAEC in 2015 estimated the price of nuclear power at Tk3 per unit or kilowatt-hours as Levelized Tariff, later it revised the price twice as its key officials said that the price would be Tk 5-5.30 per unit and then they hinted the price at Tk6-7 per unit. 

They claimed that the nuclear power company would supply electricity at less than the price at which the companies would supply electricity from imported coal and/or LNG-fired power plants. The BAEC officials also said that the price of the $12.65bn general agreement and operation and maintenance cost to be spent over the plant’s 51-year economic life were considered.

The concluding part of this op-ed will be published on Tuesday.

Rokan Uddin is a senior correspondent at NTV. He can be reached at [email protected] . This is an excerpt of a keynote paper presented at a seminar in a hotel in the Capital.

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Rooppur 2 outer dome progress, nuclear fuel set for October delivery

20 September 2023

The lower tier of the outer dome of the second unit of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh has been lifted into place. Meanwhile Rosatom says it expects to deliver the first fuel to the plant in October.

The installation of the lower tier of the outer containment dome on unit 2 was a process lasting five hours as the 46.3-metre diameter, 200-tonnes tier was lifted into its design position at an elevation of 48.8 metres.

Rooppur nuclear power plant construction project director Alexey Deriy said: "The outer containment is one of the key localising safety systems. It is a reinforced concrete structure protecting the reactor plant from external impacts, which is able to withstand an earthquake, tsunami or hurricane."

Russia's VVER-1200 reactors feature a double containment system, to maximise safety. The inner containment around the reactor building was installed in June 2022 and concreted in May 2023.

Rosatom in February 2011 signed an agreement for two reactors to be built at Rooppur for the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. The initial contract for the project, worth USD12.65 billion, was signed in December 2015. The Rooppur plant, 160 kilometres from the capital Dhaka, features two Russian VVER-1200 reactors. Construction of the first unit began in November 2017 and it is scheduled to be commissioned in 2024. Construction of the second unit at Rooppur began in July 2018.

Last month the first fuel for Rooppur unit 1's initial load was formally accepted by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) after an inspection at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant in Russia. The final protocol and licences that allow BAEC to take delivery of the fuel for the 1200 MWe VVER pressurised water reactor were signed earlier this year.

According to a report in Rosatom's in-house publication  Strana Rosatom, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, following negotiations with the Bangladeshi authorities, the fuel would be delivered in October.

The arrival of the first nuclear fuel at a plant is seen as a significant moment, with Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev saying it marks "the transition of the nuclear power plant under construction to the status of a nuclear facility and will make Bangladesh a member of the nuclear club, which includes countries that exploit peaceful nuclear energy".

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

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WNN is a public information service of World Nuclear Association

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Eight Mega Projects To Change The Face Of Bangladesh

The projects are being implemented in full swing after overcoming the first two phases of Covid-19 crisis. The government plans to start commercial operation of the first Metrorail section of Bangladesh from Uttara to Agargaon in December this year. Besides, the Padma Bridge will be inaugurated in June, writes Siam Tanjil Haque

Bangladesh has made huge strides in the work of the much-talked-about Padma Bridge and the Metro Rail of late. Work on the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, Rampal Power Plant also is in full swing. Other than these, the country has some other mega projects that, when finished, will boost the economy and change the face of the country. These widely discussed projects are Padma Bridge and Padma Rail Link, Metro Rail, Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Rail Link, Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, Matarbari Coal-Fired Power Plant and Rampal and Payra Deep Sea Port. Such mega projects will increasingly brighten Bangladesh’s image across the world. All these are priority projects of the government. By prioritizing these mega projects, the country is basically planting seeds for sustainable future. Sheikh Hasina being the Prime Minister has her own supervision all the time. The country is thus on the verge of reaping the benefits from these developmental projects.

In the interest of development of the country, at present, the government is giving utmost importance to the implementation of these mega projects of dreams. The government wants to complete these projects as soon as possible to ensure financial progress as per the targets including poverty alleviation and employment. The economic and social development of the country is largely dependent on these projects.

After the absolute victory in the ninth parliamentary elections and the formation of the Awami League government in 2009, massive development activities started all over the country. As the government remained unchanged in the second term, the development activities remained operative which never happened before. Earlier, no government remained for the second term in the country. With this new occurrence the running government had the opportunity to go forward with their plans and the flow of development activities gained more momentum.

The projects are being implemented in full swing after overcoming the first two phases of Covid-19 crisis. The government plans to start commercial operation of the first Metrorail section of Bangladesh from Uttara to Agargaon in December this year. Besides, the Padma Bridge will be inaugurated in June.

PADMA BRIDGE PROJECT

One of the most priority projects of the government is the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project. Till February 2022, the total progress of Padma Bridge project is 90.50 percent. Under the project, Tk 26,247.59 crore has already been spent. The total cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 30,193.39 crore. The total length of the bridge is 6.15 km. A total of 41 spans sits on 42 pillars of the two-storey bridge. Vehicles and train will run on this bridge. The work of the infrastructure of the Padma Bridge is almost finished, the final step of the work is now in full swing to open it for traffic. Water proof layer is being given on the upper side of the bridge. The top layer will be wrapped in carpet. These layers will prevent water from entering the bridge. This will ensure the lifespan of the bridge for hundred years.

However, the Padma Bridge project was wrapped in a lot of drama and tension. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decided to build the Padma Bridge with our own funds after many incidents of corruption allegations made before the World Bank released the money. At that time, the decision to build the Padma Bridge with our own funds brightened the image of Bangladesh all over the world. Though, it was a big challenge for the country to build the bridge. The challenge of building this bridge with no financial support and by own funding is now on the verge of completion. On June 17, 2014, the government signed an agreement with China’s Major Bridge Engineering Construction Company, a Chinese constructor, for the construction of the main bridge. In November 2014, an agreement was signed with Sinohydro Corporation, another Chinese company for river management. Besides, local constructors have constructed toll plazas, connecting roads and infrastructure at both the ends. Then the dream of the Padma Bridge began to take shape in early 2016. On September 30 of that year, the first span of Padma Bridge was laid on the 37th and 38th pillars. Starting from 2016, 41 spans are now sitting on the Padma Bridge after 5 years of effort. The last 41st span was installed on 10 December. As a result, Mawa of Munshiganj and Jajira part of Shariatpur have now been added.

If the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project is implemented, the distance and time of communication between the south-western part of the country and the capital will be reduced. The per capita income (GDP) will grow by about one percent.

METRO RAIL PROJECT

The construction work of the first metro rail in Bangladesh is running fast to free the city dwellers from traffic jams. The 20.10 km long project will be constructed from Uttara third phase to Kamalapur. The work of 11.63 km section from Diabari of Uttara to Agargaon of this project is almost completed. The entire route from Uttara to Motijheel is connected by viaduct. As a result, the road work has been completed.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) announced that, Metrorail will be launched by December 2023. According to DMTCL sources, the overall average progress of the construction work of MRT-6, the first metro rail in Bangladesh, is 74.04 percent. The progress of construction work of Agargaon section from the third phase of Uttara scheduled for first phase construction is 90.06 percent. The progress of construction work from Agargaon to Motijheel section scheduled for second phase the construction is 63.06 per cent. Electrical and Mechanical Systems, Rolling Stock (Rail Coach) and Depot Equipment Procurement Progress is 60.91 percent. From Motijheel to Kamalapur, Social Study, Household Survey, Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation Planning, Environmental Impact and Basic Design have been completed. Detailed design and land acquisition are currently underway.

Metrorail will run with 24 sets of trains. Each train will have six cars. 24 sets of trains are being purchased for Metrorail. Train sets with two engines and four coaches on either side are being made in Japan. Five sets of trains have already been prepared, the first of which may arrive in the country on April 23 previous year. Metrorail trains are being built by the Japanese company Kawasaki-Mitsubishi. In all, the price of 24 sets of trains is Tk 3,206 crore 42 lakh. After bringing these trains to Bangladesh including customs and VAT, the total cost will be Tk 4,256.34 crore. The trains will have DC-1500 voltage power supply system, Stainless steel body and vertical seats. Each train will have two wheelchairs. Each air-conditioned bogie will have four doors on each side. Each train will have a passenger capacity of 1,638 with safety standards of Japanese standard. There will be smart card ticketing system for paying rent.

Work on the Metrorail project began in June 2016. So far, the overall progress of the project is 56 percent. The total cost of the project is Tk 33,472 crore. Of this, Tk 16,595 crore is being provided by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and Tk 5,400 crore by the Government of Bangladesh.

The train will run at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour with passengers. Dhaka Metro Rail is capable of transporting 60,000 people per hour. Metrorail will reduce the travel time from Uttara to Motijheel from about two hours to just 40 minutes.

PADMA RAIL LINK PROJECT

Padma rail link project is going ahead with the funding of China. The rail link will be established below the much awaited Padma Bridge through construction of 169 km broad railway line from Dhaka to Jessore. This railway will establish the first railway connection in 23 districts of the southern part of the country. The total cost of the project will be Tk 39,246 crore. Of this, China’s debt is Tk 21,036 crore. The rest of the funding will be met from the government treasury.

In October 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of Padma Bridge and Rail Link in Mawa. Although all the work was supposed to be completed by July 2024, Ministry of Railways proposed to increase the time and cost. According to the Ministry of Railways, the Mawa-Bhanga section was supposed to be started along the road of the Padma Bridge, but now the target has been set for December 16 this year. The other two parts are targeted to be completed by 2023.

The train will run through the span on the lower floor of the two-store Padma Bridge. Vehicles will run on the four-lane road above. The rail link to Mawa is being taken by air. From there the railway will gradually descend and enter the lower floor of the bridge. At the same place, the road will gradually go up through the bottom of the railway line. More than 90 percent work of Padma Bridge has been completed. Officials said that the traffic on Padma Bridge will start in June 2022. The government aims to run trains across the Padma Bridge from the day it is commissioned. For this, the Padma Bridge Rail Link project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 39,246 crore. China Railway Group Limited, a designated contractor of the Chinese government, is working on the project in GTZ system.

A 169 km broad gauge railway will be constructed from Dhaka to Mawa and from there to Jessore via Padma Bridge. Apart from this, 43.22 km loop and siding line and 3 km double line will be constructed. Under the project, 14 new stations will be constructed and infrastructure of six stations will be developed. Of the 131 km from Dhaka to Jessore, 51 km embankment, 31 major bridges, 33 culvert-underpasses, two station buildings, viaduct piles, piers, slippers and CC blocks for river training work are under construction. Construction progress of Dhaka-Mawa 46, Mawa-Bhanga 74 and Bhanga-Jessore section is 41 percent. The overall progress of the project is 50.50 percent. Financial progress of the project is 51.82 percent.

Rail connectivity of the south-western part of the country will be established with the capital through the Padma Rail Link. It will connect Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Narail and Jessore districts.

RUPPUR POWER PLANT PROJECT

In December 2015, the government signed an agreement with Russia’s Atomstroy Export to build a 2,400 megawatt nuclear power plant at Ruppur in Pabna. The implementation period of the agreement is seven years. The cost of implementation of this project is Tk 1, 13,092 crore. The first unit of the power plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023 and the second unit in October 2024.

The project is being constructed at Ruppur village in Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna, 200 km northwest of the capital Dhaka. The project is located on the river bank next to the House Bridge and Lalan Shah Bridge over the Padma River.

It will be the first nuclear power plant in the history of the country. The nuclear power plant is being constructed at Ruppur with the cooperation of Russia, where there will be two units. The two units will generate 2400 MW of electricity at 1200 MW each. The total progress of the project is 40.34 percent. In the meantime, the total expenditure under the project has been Tk 43,097 crore. The project will be completed by December 2025.

As a single project, it is the largest project in Bangladesh. The government says the project is environmentally friendly and financially viable. The project will last for about 100 years after the start of power generation. 16 lakh families of the country will get electricity facility from this power plant. The project will employ 250,000 people. Through this project, we are gaining membership of the Earth’s Atomic Club. The Ruppur nuclear project will play a huge role in the country’s economy. The project will generate electricity at low cost. Nuclear power projects generate much lower costs to generate electricity through waste and gas. It will also save electricity for consumers. The country’s exports will increase. The country’s exporters will be benefited in the export market after construction of the Power Plant.

RAMPAL POWER PLANT PROJECT

Rampal Power Plant Project is one of the most talked about and criticized thermal power projects of recent times in the power sector of Bangladesh. The power plant is being built as a joint venture between Bangladesh and India. The cost is Tk 16,000 crore. Boundary wall, slope, land development and office cum residential building are hundred percent completed. Other works are going according to plan. Work on the Power Plant project started in July 2014. It is expected to end in June 2023.

The 1320 MW power plant is located in Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat district in Khulna division. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (VEL) will construct this power plant. The main source of coal to be used in this Bangladesh-India joint venture power plant will be imported from India. Best quality coal will be used here. Apart from India, coal will be imported from several countries including Australia, Indonesia and South Africa. Power plants are being constructed at Rampal using ultra-super critical technology, where the coal burning efficiency of a typical power plant is 26%, while the efficiency of ultra-supercritical power plant is 42-43%. In other words, it is possible to get one and a half times more electricity by burning the same amount of coal from this power plant.

The height of the chimney of Rampal Power Station will be 265 meters, the highest, so that the carbon dioxide emitted through the chimney will be limited to 1.6 kilometers (buffer zone) of the power plant. The government has confirmed that the concentration (ppm) of other harmful gases will be much lower than the levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations. In addition, the use of the latest technology available to prevent pollution will be ensured. 2 lakh trees will be planted to create green belt in the project area including introduction of round-the-clock environmental monitoring system.

If 2600 MW of electricity is added to the national grid from this project, its impact will be huge. According to economists, if this project is completed, the per capita income (GDP) will increase by one percent.

MATARBARI POWER PLANT PROJECT

The government has taken a master plan to build a power hub at Matarbari in Maheshkhali Upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. Therefore, not only the power plant, the whole area will be developed as a modern industrial area. Although the construction of this power plant was supposed to be completed by December 2023, an additional three and a half years have been requested till December 2026. The project is being constructed on 1,414 acres of land in Matarbari and Dhalghata Union.

In August 2015, the government approved a project worth Tk 36,000 crore to build a power plant at Matarbari. Japan International Development Agency (JICA) will provide Tk 29,000 crore for the project. The remaining Tk 5,000 crore will be provided from the government’s own funds. Other required funds will be provided by the project implementer and proprietor Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL). The total progress of the project is 70.80 percent. In the meantime, the total cost under the project has been Tk 16,574 crore.

The coal-fired power plant will be built using ultra-super critical technology. Under the project, two steam turbines with a capacity of 600 MW electricity production power, cooling water station, and 265 meter high chimney and water purification system will be installed. A 6 km naval channel will be constructed in the river for importing coal. Besides, jetty will be constructed for loading and unloading of coal. Burners will be installed to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide in the power plant and de-sulfurization method will be used to prevent sulfur-dioxide generation to avoid pollution.

In order to build a coal-fired power plant in this remote area of ​​Maheshkhali, Japanese Constructor Company started its main work in 2016. The first phase will generate 1,200 megawatts of electricity on 1605 acres of land. If two more units are constructed later, it will generate 2,400 MW of electricity.

If implemented, the project will contribute to standard, reliable and energy efficient power generation. It will also play an important role in the development of the socio-economic condition of the country. If all goes well, this part of the country’s first energy hub will be able to produce in just three years.

PAYRA DEEP SEA PORT PROJECT

Among the mega projects of the government, the progress of construction of Payra deep sea port project is good. In the meantime, the activities of the port have started moderately. The total progress of the project is 63 percent. The project has so far cost Tk 3,084 crore. The total cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 4,516.75 crore.

Although the project was supposed to be completed in June 2024, it was suddenly said in April last year that, the deep seaport was not being built in Payra. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury informed the media about the decision of the government. He spoke of the various complications as the cause. The distance of deep sea from Payra port through Ramnabad channel is about 75 kilometers. Every year huge silt accumulates in this channel. In that case, hundreds of crores would have to be spent every year in the dredging sector to keep the channel running. State Minister also said that, it is very difficult to increase the depth of the channel from 14 to 15 meters through capital dredging and to maintain it.

The people of Barishal-Patuakhali and the southern region were disappointed with this decision of the government. Payra deep sea project come to a halt, so did everyone’s dream around the deep sea port. Thousands of crores have been invested by various private and privately owned companies around this port comes under threat. Everyone assumed that there was no future for Payra sea port.

But, the seaport of Payra has begun to prove that the light of hope has not been extinguished. Sea-going ships are coming to this port regularly. The crowd is growing day by day. Increasing revenue. Moreover, almost all the development plans taken by the government around Payra sea port are continuing. Only the word ‘deep’ is omitted.

The Payra Seaport Authority Act was passed in the National Assembly in November 2013. After the acquisition of 48 acres of land in two phases, the construction of the port started. At the end of 2019, after the initial phase of the work, the first imported goods arrived at the port. From then on, the Payra sea port did not have to look back. As the third seaport of the country, 160 foreign ships have anchored here in two years. The port has so far earned Tk 350 crore through unloading of goods.

The country’s economy will be boosted if Payra deep seaport is introduced. Large ships will be able to pass through the wide channel of Payra. Payra Port will play an important role in expanding the industrial sector, creating new jobs, expanding the shipbuilding industry, providing food grains in the southern districts, establishing regional transit facilities and economic corridors as well as exploiting the opportunities of the Blue Economy.

KARNAPHULI TUNNEL PROJECT

Plans have been made to make the port city of Chattogram similar to China’s Shanghai province. As part of this, construction work of Karnaphuli Tunnel also known as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel is in full swing at Patenga and Anwara under Karnaphuli River. Already 35 percent of the work has been completed. If the current pace of work can be maintained, the work of this project will be completed within the stipulated time of December 2022.

Construction of connecting road from Shikalbahar Waii junction to Anwara Sadar and Kalabibir Dighi on the southern bank of Karnaphuli River is in progress. Existing roads are being expanded to form tunnel connecting roads.

Our neighbor India has land tunnels, but Bangladesh is the first SAARC country in the subcontinent to construct tunnels under the sea or river.

In June 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with China to set up a tunnel in Bangladesh. One year later, on June 30, 2015, a trade agreement was signed between the two sides in the presence of China’s Road Transport Minister Yang Chuangtang. In October 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping officially inaugurated the project. Exim Bank of China signed the loan agreement on November 8, 2016. On 24 February 2019, Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the work of the tunnel.

The government of Bangladesh is providing financial assistance of Tk 4,461.23 crore for this project constructed at a cost of Tk 10,374 crore. Exim Bank of China is providing the remaining Tk 5,913.19 crore for the project, which will have to be paid by Bangladesh at 2 percent interest rate. Although the total length of the tunnel is 9.39 km, the length of the main tunnel is 3.32 km. The tunnel has two tubes with a diameter of 10.60 meters, each of which is 2.45 kilometers long.

The Chattogram metropolis on one side and Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway on the other are going to be connected through this tunnel.

As a result of construction of Karnaphuli Tunnel, modern communication system will be developed between Dhaka-Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and connection will be established with Asian Highway. The Karnaphuli Tunnel will have a profound impact on the economic development of the country, including the elimination of unemployment through the overall facilitation of communication system, modernization, development of industries and development of tourism industry.

1981 to 2022. Bangladesh is in its fifty one years. From where Bangladesh has now completely turned around. Bangladesh has already become a role model as a developing country. These projects will accelerate the development of the country. Although work of these projects has been temporarily halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, now it is currently running in full swing. One of the targets of the government is to complete the work of these projects on time. Therefore, the highest priority is being given to the implementation of these dream mega projects. Necessary funds have been also allocated for these.

Besides, these mega projects a new Bangladesh is being formed through the implementation of projects like, Dhaka-Chattogram Express Railway, Moheshkhali LNG Terminal, Dohazari-Ghumdhum dual gauge track, Shahjalal International Airport extension, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), four lane road to connect North to Dhaka and Jamuna Railway Bridge, deep seaport in Sonadia. Experts say that if the continuity of development is maintained in this way, the face of Bangladesh will change completely after 15 years.

Such big projects are necessary to attract investment in the country. If these projects are implemented, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the people will also increase along with the growth of the country. There will be speed in trade and commerce, there will be opportunities for employment.

The motto of a famous song is, ‘The sky has touched the ground.’ The sky may not touch the ground, but the ‘impossible’ dream that the people of the country once dreamt is now about to see the rightful reality of fruition through implementation these mega projects.

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• রূপপুর-এনপিপি

The leading cause of using nuclear energy is not only to accommodate the ever-increasing energy demand but also to build versatile and sustainable sources to extract energy from. So that in the future, we won’t be solely dependent on fossil fuels.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is the only nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. It can provide a tremendous amount of energy within a short time. So, it is going to play a crucial role in the electricity sector in Bangladesh.

If you want to know in detail about the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant capacity , Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Contractor please stay with us.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant location:

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be a 2.4 GWe nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. Rooppur NPP site is located in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, on the eastern (left)side of the river Padma (the local name for the lower reaches of the Ganges River), 160 km north-west of the capital -the city Dhaka, 21 km north-west from the city of Pabna, at a distance of about 8 km from the center of the sub-district Ishwardi. Site territory is located between 89° 02′ and 89° 03′ East longitude and between 24° 03′ and 24° 04′ North latitude.

Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors and a total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed based on the Russian design, 160 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in accordance with General Contract dated December 25, 2015. The General Contractor for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction is Atomstroyexport (the engineering division of ROSATOM).

About the Rooppur Nuclear power plant:

In 1961, the construction of a nuclear power plant was first proposed in the west of Bangladesh.

In 1963, this power plant was approved. After independence in 1972-75, the then Prime Minister of the independent Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the initiative in building a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 200MW but not built.

Finally, in February 2011, Bangladesh made an agreement with Russia to build the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

After a strategic co-operation agreement for the development, the project took off between the Government of Bangladesh and the Russian Federation in November 2011.

On November 2, 2011, the inter-government agreement (IGA) was officially signed.

The honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the first nuclear power plant of Bangladesh on October 20, 2013.

In November 2017, Bangladesh commenced construction of its first nuclear power reactor, Unit-1 of Rooppur NPP. So, from then, November 30 is celebrated as “Nuclear Day”.

Unit- 1 of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is the first of two large Russian Nuclear power reactors to be built at the site.

JSC Atomstroyexport is a subsidiary of ROSATOM. It was appointed as a general contractor by BAEC for the project of the nuclear power plant.

The first of two units of the power plant is expected to go into operation in 2023.

The critical infrastructure and VVER-1200 Nuclear reactor are being built by the Russian ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation.

Most of the nuclear power plant reactors are thermal reactors. And they use a neutron moderator to slow neutrons. Nuclear Power Plant is more environment friendly.

Nuclear fuel:

The Mixed Oxide nuclear fuel is made from reprocessed uranium and plutonium. It’s a process of nuclear reprocessing.

They are capable of sustaining and undergoing nuclear fission. The three most relevant fissile isotopes are plutonium-239, uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-233.

Uranium is the most widely used as fuel by nuclear plants for nuclear fission. Rooppur nuclear power plants use a specific type of uranium—U-235 as the best fuel.

The capacity of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant:

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be equipped with two Russian VVER reactors, each with power generation capacity of 1,200 MWe. The referential project for Rooppur NPP is Novovoronezh II NPP in Russia, which is a unique new Generation 3+ power unit with a VVER-1200 reactor.

Under the two units of the Nuclear Plant project, 2,400 MW of electricity will be generated.

The electricity generated at the NPP will be transmitted through different parts of the country. Hopefully, the two units of Rooppur NPP are expected to go into producing electricity in 2023 and 2024.

This power plant is one of the most important projects of the Bangladesh Government. It is being implemented under financial and technical assistance from Russia. Rooppur NPP will play an important role in providing a stable base load and ensuring energy security of the country.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be equipped with the latest generation of two VVER-1200 water-cooled and water-moderated power reactors of the AES-2006 / V-392M design.

And each construction stage at this power plant is closely monitored by the national nuclear authority BAEC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Conclusion:

The Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project has been considered economically, technically, and financially viable and environmentally acceptable as an option in the country’s long-term electricity generation.

In an increasingly power-hungry world, we are running out of fossil fuels. And all the more proactive governments in the world are looking for a viable alternative source of energy like nuclear. And Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is that sustainable and alternate source of energy for our future. This plant can play a significant role in de-carbonizing the production of electricity, which is enormously effective to reduce greenhouse emissions.

The government is willing to take the necessary steps to implement this project for a secured electricity supply to sustain our country’s economic development.

If you enjoyed our article and think it was beneficial, don’t forget to share it with others.

• https://rooppurnpp.portal.gov.bd/
• https://www.rosatom.ru/en/press-centre/news/rosatom-develops-cooperation-with-the-republic-of-bangladesh/

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Economic Impact of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Sajjad Hossan

September 4, 2022

Updated On : May 28, 2023

Rooppur nuclear power plant is the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, and in terms of expense, it’s the biggest mega project in the country’s history. The two under-construction units of this nuclear power plant at Rooppur, Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna, will be able to produce a total of 2400 megawatts of electricity daily. According to project authorities , Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will contribute 10 percent of the country’s total electricity generation by 2030. Besides, this power plant will play a vital role in reducing the unit cost of electricity production in the country as well as reducing the dependence on fossil fuels like gas-oil-coal for power production, which will simultaneously protect the country’s natural resources, and enhance Bangladesh’s energy security and prevent environmental pollution associated with fossil fuels. This article is a comprehensive discussion about the economic impact of the Rooppur nuclear power plant.

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) has been implementing this project with the help of Russia under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of Bangladesh since November 2017. The budget of the project is estimated to be around $13 (12.65) billion or BDT 1 lakh 14 thousand crores. Russia is financing $11.39 billion or 90 percent of this cost. Which has to be paid with interest at the rate of 4 percent within 28 years after the implementation of the project. However, if necessary, there is an option to extend this repayment period up to 10 years. As a result, Bangladesh will also be able to repay this debt easily due to such a simple loan policy. Even, Bangladesh will be able to repay this debt with the income from this power plant. The rest of the budget will be borne from the Bangladesh government funds. In terms of cost, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is the largest ever mega project in Bangladesh. The general construction of the project was entrusted to JSC Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of the Russian Nuclear Energy Corporation – Rosatom. Two units of the Rooppur nuclear power plant have been targeted for commercial production from February 2024. The Rooppur nuclear power plant consists primarily of two units, each with a capacity of 1200 MW, which, after construction, will produce 2400 MW of electricity. According to a Prothom Alo source, the Rooppur nuclear power plant has a total lifespan of 60 years, and the production capacity of the two units ranges from a minimum of 50 to a maximum of 90 percent.

Nuclear power plants have been generating electricity since the 1950s. According to a source from the International Atomic Energy Agency , at the end of 2021, there are a total of 437 nuclear reactors operational in 34 countries of the world, which together are producing a total of 3 lakh 89 thousand 508 megawatts of electricity. In addition, another 56 reactors are currently under construction in 19 countries, including two reactors at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh. If these reactors are operational, another 58 thousand 96 megawatts of electricity can be generated. However, the 1986 Chornobyl disaster in Ukraine and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant have led many to be skeptical of nuclear power plants worldwide. After these two disasters, improvements in nuclear power plant technology have made it possible to reduce the risk factor to a large extent. Although electricity can be generated using renewable energy such as solar or wind, the initial investment in setting up such power plants is high. Due to this, the generation of electricity from nuclear power plants is very cost-effective. Considering these things, it was necessary for Bangladesh to start electricity generation using nuclear power much earlier. Although Bangladesh joined the era of nuclear power plants very late, if this project is successful, Bangladesh may do more with nuclear power in the future.

Economic Impact

According to a source from the Bangladesh Power Division , Bangladesh currently has an electricity generation capacity of more than 25 thousand (25,566) megawatts. According to the Power System Master Plan of the Power Department, a target of 60,000 MW has been set by 2041. Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will play an important role in achieving this target. However, the master plan anticipated that 35 percent of the country’s electricity generation to come from natural gas, 35 percent from coal, and 30 percent from liquid fuel, nuclear, renewable, and other sources. On the other hand, currently, more than 44 percent of Bangladesh’s electricity production is produced from gas.

Meanwhile, if the Ruppur nuclear power plant of 2400 MW is commissioned, this power plant alone will be able to produce more than 8 percent of the country’s total production capacity. Which will play an important role in reducing the country’s dependence on gas, oil, and coal-based energy. Bangladesh’s electricity generation is currently dependent on coal, gas, and fuel oil, a large part of which has to be imported from the spot market or oil-producing countries in the Middle East. These fuel prices often rise due to global events like inflation, economic sanctions, and wars. For example, there is currently instability in the world’s fuel oil market due to post-pandemic global inflation and the Ukraine-Russia war. Due to this, Bangladesh’s cost of fuel import has increased, which is causing additional pressure on Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves. Apart from this, the government has been forced to take initiatives like load-shedding at scheduled times due to not being able to import fuel as per the demand. When the Ruppur nuclear power plant will be in operation, the dominance of fossil fuels in Bangladesh’s power sector will be reduced to some extent, which will also contribute to the country’s energy security.

Generating electricity from nuclear power plants is also quite cost-effective as compared to electricity generation from gas-oil-coal or renewable sources. In Bangladesh, thermal power plants have an average capacity of 50 percent, while nuclear power plants have an average capacity of 90 percent.

Meanwhile, two VVER-1200 reactors are being installed at the Rooppur power plant with 93 percent capacity. According to PDB , currently the average cost of producing electricity per kilowatt in public and private sectors in Bangladesh is BDT 6.61. Besides, the cost of generating electricity per kilowatt using diesel, furnace oil, and coal is BDT 28.17, BDT 13.77, and BDT 8.25, respectively. On the other hand, Uranium-235 will be used as fuel in the Rooppur nuclear power plant, through which the cost of power generation for the first two decades is expected to be BDT 4 to BDT 4.50 per unit. According to Euro Nuclear, 8 and 12 kilowatts of electricity can be produced per kg of coal and fuel oil, respectively, while about 24,000 megawatts of electricity can be generated from each kg of Uranium-235. Also, since uranium is a radioactive metal, it is not directly traded in the open or spot market. Due to this, the purchase and sale of uranium are also very regulated, as a result, any country cannot purchase more uranium than it needs. Therefore, the price of uranium is quite stable.

The government of Bangladesh buys electricity from government power plants, independent power producers, rental and quick rental, and India and supplies it to the public. Meanwhile, the power generation capacity is about 50 percent more than the country’s demand. Due to this, the government has to pay tens of thousands of crores of subsidies every year as the capacity payment. As a result, the government is losing a lot of money every year. In view of this, the government is planning to close the rental and quick rental power plants by 2024. By doing this, the government’s expenditure on purchasing electricity will be reduced to a large extent. On the other hand, since the cost of power generation from nuclear power plants is low, in the future, it will be possible for the government to make affordable pricing without increasing the price of electricity. Besides, by the year 2030, besides the transportation sector of Bangladesh, the demand for electricity will also increase in many other sectors. For example, the Dhaka Metrorail will be fully electrified, and the government is working to introduce electric vehicles in the under-construction BRT project as well. Since the demand for electricity is constantly increasing, if the government can keep the price of supplied electricity low, then the operational cost of Metrorail and electric vehicles can also be kept low, which will directly benefit the people of the country.

Apart from meeting the electricity demand, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will also play a role in socio-economic development of the country. In Ishwardi, there is already an EPZ covering 309 acres, with 324 industrial plots. Ishwardi EPZ will have direct access to electricity if Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is functional. This will make the productive activities there more efficient, and more foreign companies will be interested in investing there. This will create jobs for many people in Ishwardi Upazila. Besides, since Bangladesh is a production-oriented economy, uninterrupted electricity is very important for production. Electricity production will increase in the country due to Rooppur nuclear power plant, which will also support manufacturing industries. On the other hand, since Bangladesh’s biggest USP is low-cost production, keeping power generation costs low will enable Bangladesh to retain its low-cost production capacity and give an advantage to the country’s export sector. This will have a positive effect on the country’s economy.

Besides, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will also play an important role in restraining the most talked issue of the present time, “Environmental Pollution.” It is possible to reduce the amount of harmful gases in the Earth’s atmosphere by generating electricity using nuclear energy. The Bangladesh government has decided to reduce the country’s heat-trapping emissions by 21.85 percent by 2030. The biggest cause of air pollution in the country is the operation of power plants using fossil fuels. Considering all aspects, the establishment of nuclear power plants is quite advantageous for Bangladesh. Besides, Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Russia for nuclear waste disposal of power plants. In this way, there is almost no chance of environmental damage due to radiation in taking the nuclear waste emitted from the power plant back to Russia.

Apart from this, Bangladesh will benefit from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant because many jobs will be created. As this power plant is the first nuclear power plant in the country, it will require skilled manpower to work here. More than 4,500 foreign engineers are currently working on the Rooppur project, most of them from Russia. Besides, some skilled engineers from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and India are also working on this project. As of 2019, 17 Indian experts have worked as consultants on the project. Five more have been appointed in 2019. In addition, 3 more international experts from Germany and America are working on the project as part-time consultants, and several more experts from Russia will join the project in 2022. Moreover, Bangladeshi experts are also providing regular advice as members of various committees. On the other hand, 1 thousand 424 Bangladeshi workers are being sent to Russia step by step for field-level training for the operation and maintenance of power plants. As a result, a new skilled labor force is being created in the country. Besides, the opportunity will be created for the current and future generations who want to study nuclear energy. This is the first project of Bangladesh using nuclear energy, and if it is successful, Bangladesh should undertake more such projects in the future. The success of this project may bring new investments in the nuclear energy sector of Bangladesh. By doing so, Bangladesh’s energy crisis can be reduced.

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Rooppur nuclear power plant: Cost may rise for multiple factors

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project may see a cost rise due to slow progress in power grid upgrade, possible changes in the loan repayment method amid the Russia-Ukraine war and the devaluation of the taka.

The Tk 113,092-crore plant has two units with a power generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts each. Of the amount, Tk 91,040 crore ($11.38 billion) will be provided by Russia as loan, according to an agreement.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Project officials said the first unit will be ready for commercial operation in December 2023 and the second one in July 2024.

The plant, however, may face delay in going into commercial operation as the Infrastructure Development for Power Evacuation Facility, scheduled to be completed by December next year, has seen only 27 percent financial progress and 45 percent physical progress in nearly five years till September this year.

Talking to reporters at the plant site recently, Shawkat Akbar, project director of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, said they would not be able run the plant until the power grid upgrade is done under the infrastructure development facility.

"Once we use nuclear fuel in the plant, we can't stop production," he pointed out.

Work of the infrastructure development facility under the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) began in April 2018 at a cost of Tk 10,981 crore with Tk 8,219 crore funding from the Indian Line of Credit.

The project's aim is to ensure power evacuation from the nuclear power plant and qualitative upgradation of the power system for the integration and safe operation of the Rooppur plant.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 19 inaugurated the second and final reactor of the plant, marking the most important development in the country's first nuclear power project.

Talking to reporters a day before the second reactor's installation, Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman said it wouldn't be possible to start operation of the plant until the power grid line is ready to take electricity from the plant.

Asked whether the transmission line would be ready in due time, he said, "I'm not in a position to answer that. They [PGCB] are trying to ready the grid as per the deadline.

"If the grid is not ready in due time, it will be a loss for the country."

Following international sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, Moscow sent a proposal to Dhaka in June, seeking loan repayment in the ruble instead of US dollar, a move, which, according to the Economic Relation Division (ERD), would increase the loan servicing cost.

According to the agreement signed in July 16, 2016, Bangladesh was supposed to repay the loan in dollars.

In August, Moscow sent a fresh proposal to Dhaka, asking the latter to amend the agreement and change the payment modality, the payment gateway and the currency for repaying the loan. 

Russia asked Bangladesh to consider repaying the loan to its account with a Chinese bank in China.  There, the dollar will be converted to the yuan and then to the ruble.

In late February, key Russian banks were expelled from SWIFT, the high-security system that enables financial transactions all around the world, over Russia's war against Ukraine.

Regarding the Russian proposal, Yeafesh said, "I'm not in a position to comment on this. The issue lies with the finance ministry.

"However, I can say both Bangladesh and Russia are trying to solve the matter amicably."

In reply to a query, Yeafesh claimed there is no possibility of a project cost rise as all the things had already been fixed.

Shawkat said talks are underway on the mode of loan repayment, which will start two years after the plant begins commercial operation.

"A team of the [science and technology] ministry is reviewing Russia's freshproposal," he said.

ERD officials said a change in the mode of payment means Bangladesh would have to change the currency multiple times, which would raise the cost of loan as well as risks stemming from the exchange rate volatility.

"Since Bangladesh is not responsible for the unexpected situation, our efforts would be to ensure we don't bear any additional financial burden for that," said a financial ministry official seeking anonymity.

When the loan agreement was signed, the exchange rate was below Tk 85 against a dollar. Now it has shot up to Tk 103. And by the time Bangladesh will start repaying the loan two years after the plant begins commercial operation, an additional amount has to be paid due to devaluation of the taka.

As per the current exchange rate, the Russian loan of $11.38 billion stands at Tk 117,214 crore, which was Tk 91,040 crore during the signing of the deal in 2016, as the taka lost value against the dollar during the period.

The government listed this mega project on 1,062 acres of land in Pabna as one of the top-10 priority or fast-track projects to be completed in due time.

The construction of the nuclear power plant began in November 2017. Once it's completed, Bangladesh will become the third Asian country after India and Pakistan to harness the power of the atoms.

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Russians complete Rooppur nuke power feasibility study; project design

PM opens installation of 2nd reactor at Rooppur nuke plant

Consider setting up 2nd nuclear power plant

Russia and the economic consequences of war

Iran resumes talks with Russia to build new nuclear power plant

পর্ন তারকাকে ঘুষের মামলায় দোষী সাব্যস্ত ট্রাম্প

আদালতের বিচারক আগামী ১১ জুলাই সাজা ঘোষণার তারিখ নির্ধারণ করেছেন।

পেট্রল-অকটেনের দাম বাড়ল লিটারে আড়াই টাকা, ডিজেল বাড়ল ৭৫ পয়সা