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‘Covid, war delays RNPP transmission line work’


Published : 09 Nov 2022 10:28 PM | Updated : 10 Nov 2022 11:56 AM

The construction work of power transmission line of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project has been delayed to some extent due to the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent dollar crisis. However, the government is trying to complete the works within the stipulated time frame.

Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman on Wednesday made the comments while briefing reporters after a joint meeting of his ministry with the Power Division at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka. 

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid was also present at the meeting.

The meeting was convened to discuss the progress of the construction of a power transmission line from the nuclear power plant in Rooppur in Pabna.

 “We're trying to get this done on time,” he said, adding that both the Science and Technology Ministry and the Power Division will work together in a coordinated manner to complete the project.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that execution of the power transmission line of the project was delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war. But, works are ongoing. Efforts are being made to complete the works on time. The project will not be delayed by too long.

He said “the transmission line crossing the Padma River is a major work which may take another one and a half years to complete. We hope we can complete the transmission line before completion of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.”

According to sources, due to fund issues, authorities are yet to finalise a contractor for the river crossing transmission project, one of the five package projects to facilitate power distribution from the nuclear power plant.

Sources said three companies in India are working on construction of transmission lines. Basically, due to the lack of speed in the work of the three companies, uncertainty has arisen about the completion of the work on the scheduled time.

The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to go into production by the end of next year. The transmission lines have to be kept prepared at least six months in advance for various tests. 

The 2400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, with two units, was undertaken in 2010. As per the project plan, the first unit of the nuclear power plant will supply 1,200MW power in 2023 while the same amount of electricity will be available from the second unit in 2024.

But later the target was reset, and the first unit was to be completed by June 2024 and second unit by June 2025. Sources involved in the project believe it may miss the new timeline again.

The project has seen around 53 % financial progress and 55% physical progress. However, the overall progress of the first unit is 70%.

The Rooppur project is being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission with the technical and financial support of Russia.

The project's construction cost, including manpower training, amounts to $12.65 billion, and 90% of it is being funded by Russia.

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