Dhaka Dials Moscow For Setting Up Second Nuclear Power Plant At Rooppur

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday (2 April) requested Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom to consider building a second nuclear power plant in Rooppur.

She made the request when Alexey Likhachev, Director General (DG) of Rosatom called on her at the Gono Bhaban.

"We are interested in building another nuclear power plants at Rooppur, if there is any scope to do so. Technical survey needs to be conducted for setting up of two more power units. We need your support in constructing new power units after completion of the ongoing project. I would request you to utilise Bangladeshi expertise in other nuclear power plant construction projects,” said Sheikh Hasina.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), Bangladesh's first nuclear power facility, consists of two units, each having the capacity to generate 1200 MW of electricity.

Situated on the banks of the Padma River (the local name for the lower reaches of the Ganges River), 160 km northwest of Dhaka and 21 km northwest of Pabna, the VVER-type (water-cooled water-moderated reactor) power units are being developed by Rosatom.

Construction on the nuclear plant at Rooppur began in 2017, with the first unit set to start operating next year, and both units expected to be fully operational by 2025.

“The implementation of Rooppur NPP construction project is approaching one of the most important milestones — the physical start-up of Unit 1 which is to take place before the end of the year," said Likhachev.

Apprising Hasina of the progress in building the Rooppur power plant, the Rosatom DG said 85 per cent work of the RNPP has been completed. He said the plant will start production by 2025.