The government plans to carry out surveys for building two ore units at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna after getting approval for expansion of the power plant.
The surveys, which are expected to take at least three years, are intended to evaluate the feasibility and logistics of enhancing the power plant's capacity. Clarifying this issue, a thorough comparison with nuclear power plant in Beloyarsk, Russia, provides insightful information.
Sources said that the country could follow the Russian approach for expansion of nuclear power plant units within the existing plants or stations. Six-decade-old Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Station, situated in the Sverdlovsk region, 45 km from Yekaterinburg and 1,800 km east of Moscow, plays a pivotal role in meeting 15% of Sverdlovsk's energy demand. Distinguished by its multifaceted reactor utilisation across units, the plant, inaugurated in 1964, showcases a spectrum of reactor generation.
Originally comprising four units,
the plant's first-generation reactors are now undergoing decommissioning, marking the end of their operational cycle. Notably, the third unit houses the BN 600 reactor commissioned in 1980, while the fourth unit boasts the BN 800, a third-plus generation reactor operational since 2015, renowned for its fast neutron capabilities. Looking ahead, construction of the fifth unit, featuring the fourth-generation BN 1200 reactor, is slated to commence in 2026, with an estimated six-year timespan.
Drawing parallels, Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant embarks on a similar trajectory with plans for two more units. Echoing the Belyarsk plant's sequential expansion, the Rooppur project aims to complete the first two units by 2026, with subsequent units slated for development thereafter.
In addressing the timeline for expansion, a Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission source emphasises the preparatory groundwork, citing a requisite two to three years for survey and design phases.
Professor Dr. Md Shafiqul Islam of Dhaka University's Nuclear Engineering Department told Bangladesh Post that large-scale reactor projects come with a variety of complex challenges. Although 1,200 acres of land have been acquired in the Rooppur area, he stated, the project area's soil strength makes it suitable, so a survey for expansion could be conducted there. He also goes on to explain the potential financial difficulties and burdens.
“We should proceed cautiously because we will be responsible for repayment of loan from 2028.”
Even with its logistical challenges, Rooppur has a tactical edge thanks to its current infrastructure. In order to streamline operations, Dr. Shafiqul Islam emphasises the critical role that centralised facilities play in fuel management, fuel transposition, and waste management. Additionally, he highlights that priority will be given to the newest reactor mechanism and upgraded technology.
According to Asaduzzaman, an engineer involved with Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, there is a chance that two more nuclear power plants could be built. He told Bangladesh Post that there is ample space for infrastructure development in this project area, and Russia has already witnessed such expansions in multiple nuclear power plant projects.
However, as expansion plans develop, careful consideration of technical capability and availability of water resources continues to be crucial. In addition to demonstrating infrastructure strength, the path towards increasing Rooppur's nuclear capacity also demonstrates a dedication to utilising cutting-edge technologies in Bangladesh's energy sector.
PM eager to build two more units
During a meeting with Rosatom Director-General Alexey Likhachev on April 2, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested Russia's state-run atomic agency, Rosatom, to consider constructing a second nuclear power plant in Rooppur.
Likhachev updated the prime minister on the progress of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), stating that it is expected to commence production by 2025 and add electricity to the national grid.
He indicated that 85 percent of the RNPP's construction has been completed and proposed the construction of two additional nuclear power units (Unit-3 and Unit-4) in the Rooppur area.
Likhachev suggested that the construction of these new units should begin after the completion of the first two units. Currently, the construction of two units, each with a capacity of 1200MW, is nearing completion in the Rooppur project area. The first unit is scheduled to undergo physical start-up in December this year, with commercial power generation anticipated to commence in 2025 and 2026 for Unit-1 and Unit-2 respectively.
Rooppur project exemplifies integrity amidst monumental scale: Minister
Addressing a seminar on national development on Thursday, Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman lauded the integrity underpinning the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, emphasizing its mammoth budget of Tk 1 lakh 14 thousand crore. Asserting a zero-tolerance stance towards corruption, Minister Yeafesh Osman highlighted the project's unblemished track record, affirming its equivalence to four Padma Bridges in scale.
Amidst accolades for the project's financial transparency, Minister Osman championed the nation's untapped reservoir of talent, urging its conscientious utilization for transformative endeavors. Against the backdrop of national achievements, he reiterated the imperative of ethical conduct, underscoring the intrinsic value of honesty in societal progress.