PM to inaugurate installation work of `reactor vessel’ at RNPP tomorrow

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate virtually the reactor pressure vessel installation work in the first reactor building of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) tomorrow.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate it through video conferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban at 10am. “With this, the country’s dream to produce nuclear energy is going to be materialized,” an official familiar with the process told BSS.

The main unit of the nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna will be installed in the first unit of the reactor pressure vessel or nuclear reactor.

“Rooppur NPP has accumulated the best Russian practice and dozens of years of experience and scientific thoughts. The unique combination of active and passive systems of the power units will ensure safe operation of the power plant and guarantee the planned level of electricity generation”, director general of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev said.

He said, “Development of nuclear power industry will not only resolve the problem of energy supply in Bangladesh but will also contribute to the development of the region and enhance the living standards of the people.

Cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh is of strategic character. I am confident that many other projects both in the field of power engineering and other areas are yet to be implemented by Russian and Bangladeshi specialists together”, Likhachev further said.

Before installing the nuclear reactor, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yafesh Osman said it is the most important chapter in the construction of the nuclear power plant and with this the project is moving forward on time.

The nuclear power plant in Pabna that consists of two units with a capacity of 1,200MW each is the country’s maiden power project of its kind, he said.

Project Director and nuclear scientist Dr Md Shaukat Akbar said that work is going on in Rooppur following strict hygiene rules in COVID-19.

He said installation of almost all types of nuclear equipment will be completed by installing reactor pressure vessels inside the physical structure of Unit-1. As a result, the work inside the reactor building of this unit will be almost completed.

The Ruppur project is being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, which is being constructed with the technical and financial support of Russia. (BSS)