Bonik Barta photo Bangladesh and Russia signed an agreement in 2016 for $11.38 billion
to finance the construction of Rooppur nuclear power plant. According to the
updated information of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), as of the first
half (July-December) of the 2023-24 fiscal, $6.273 billion of the pledged
Russian loan was released. This is about 55 percent of the total loan amount. Most
of the work of the project has already been completed. Sources concerned say
that 85 percent of the work has been concluded.
The first unit of the nuclear power plant being constructed with
the Russian finance and technology is likely to be operational within this
year. Installation of necessary heavy machinery and nuclear reactors has been
done. Spare parts, infrastructures and fuel have already arrived in the
country.
When asked where the remaining un-released $5 billion will be
used, a senior official involved in the Rooppur project told Bonik Barta on
condition of anonymity, “Release of loan and use of fund for this project are not
like all other projects. Russia itself is in charge of issues like construction
of the power plant, technology, spare parts to fuel supply and security. So,
they themselves will get most of the money spent on the project. As per the
power plant construction agreement, money is not released until the
manufacturing of the spare parts for the project and their placement are done. Many
parts were placed, but those are still at experimental level. Many parts are at
the shipment phase. Activities are on in many phases.”
Bonik Barta reached out to Nuclear Power Plant Company of
Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) Managing Director Shawkat Akbar, but it was not
possible to get this comments on the issue.
The total capacity of two units of Rooppur nuclear power plant
is 2,400 megawatt – 1,200 megawatt each. The first unit is likely to be
operational by this year. The fuel for the first unit came to Bangladesh in
September 28, last year. The second unit is scheduled to start operation in
2025.
Talking to two officials of the Ministry of Science and
Technology, it has been learnt that works are now at the pre-commissioning
stage with regard to operationalization of the first unit which means
activities on cold state and hot state. There are at least three more steps on
the way to operationalize the power plant. If all the relevant activities,
including construction of gridlines and sub-stations are properly done, it will
be possible to begin operation of the first unit quickly.
“There is an international guideline on commencing operation
of a nuclear power plant,” Professor Dr Shafiqul Islam of nuclear engineering
at Dhaka University told Bonik Barta.
“There are at least four phases in the lead up to the commencement.
Especially, the pre-commissioning activities, involving cold state and hot
state, need to be completed. Then, using real fuel, you have to go to full
power gradually from zero. After that fuel is to be loaded at final phase. The
results of these activities will have to be provided to the regulatory bodies.
After all thse procedures, the plant can be made operational,” he said.
Bangladesh and Russia are moving ahead with all the
preparations to begin operation of the country’s first ever nuclear power
plant. However, many individuals involved in the sector have expressed fear on commencement
of the plant in time, as there remains a big doubt about completion of
construction of gridlines.
According to Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the
duration of the project to complete the construction of gridlines for Rooppur
nuclear power plant is from July, 2022 to June, 2025. So far, the project registered
22 percent physical progress and only 10 percent financial progress.
People concerned say connecting Rooppur power plant with the
national grid mainly depends on demand. But, the Power Division is planning to
have electricity from Rooppur in the national grid.
Engineer Mohammad Hossain, director general of government’s
regulatory body Power Cell, told Bonik Barta, “We have a plan to take
electricity from Rooppur within this year. We do have the capacity to transmit
the electricity of the first unit. But, it is doubtful if the NPCBL, the implanting
body, will be able to able to start the power plant in time.”
According to annual report of ERD, since Bangladesh’s
independence, Russia has so far pledged a total loan of $12.28 billion. Of it,
$11.38 billion is for Rooppur nuclear power plant of which 6.273 was already
released. This shows that Russian pledged and released loan for other sectors
is negligible.
