The launch of the first Russian-designed Rooppur nuclear power plant in the People's Republic of Bangladesh has been postponed for several months. Polaris Electric News Network, a Chinese industry publication, reported this, citing representatives of the project.
"Representatives of the nuclear power project in Rooppur, Bangladesh, said that the commissioning of the plant has been delayed by one year. <...> According to the latest schedule, Units 1 and 2 are scheduled to be commissioned in February 2024 and late 2024, respectively," the publication writes.
Earlier it was expected that the first unit of Rooppur NPP would be launched in 2023, the second - in 2024.
In November 2011, Russia and Bangladesh signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the first nuclear power plant of Bangladesh Rooppur (on the coast of the Ganges River in Pabna district). In mid-December 2015, the general contract was signed. Atomstroyexport (an enterprise of Rosatom) is the general contractor.
In early 2017, the Russian government provided Bangladesh with a $11.38 billion government loan to finance the main construction phase of the nuclear power plant. Construction of the plant began in 2021. The nuclear power plant is located on the eastern bank of the Padma River, 160 km from the Bangladesh capital Dhaka. The plant is being designed and built according to the Russian Generation 3+ design. The design and construction of the facility is being carried out by Rosatom's engineering division. The power plant will consist of two power generating units with VVER-1200-type reactors, which have a life cycle of 60 years with the possibility to extend their service life for another 20 years. Construction of the first and second power units is currently underway.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Wikiemirati/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS