Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
If everything goes well, the first unit of the country’s only nuclear power plant is going to start-up in December this year. Before this, the delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will come to observe the overall preparations including safety aspects. It is trying to know how durable Rooppur’s technology or safety system is when compared with the power plants of Russia, which is a pioneer in nuclear energy. It is known that the Bangladeshis will manage the highly complex and sensitive power plant in the end, although Russia will help it in the beginning. About 1,079 Bangladeshi experts will work in the start-up phase of the first unit. 2,090 Bangladeshi experts will be needed to run the other two units. How prepared Bangladeshi expert team is discussed with the project stakeholders and experts.
According to the project officials, 899 Bangladeshis have already received training in Russia. After receiving the training, many are waiting for the license approval from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority. The requisite numbers of experts are expected to be licensed prior to start-up. Rosatom’s special program will continue till next September to train local manpower in safe operation of Rooppur power plant.
Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Shaukat Akbar says, ‘Our manpower will manage this project. The Atomic Energy Commission will be able to operate the power plant with maximum security. All necessary training and measures are being taken for this.
It is known that Rosatom Technical Academy is providing full support in the training process. According to their comments, Bangladeshi experts receive 1-3 years of training at different stages considering their future work place and responsibilities. One such trainee, Sajjadul Islam, is currently in Russia. After completing the training, he will join the commissioning work as a technical supervisor after returning to the country.
The training program in Russia is very systematic, he said. After receiving theoretical and practical training, one has to undergo on-job training at Novovarnezh Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, which is considered as reference for Rooppur project. At every step everyone faces tough tests, so that there are no gaps in mastery. Russian trainers are very sincere and patiently train by hand. Although there is a language barrier, it is not felt much due to the patience and sincerity of the interpreters. The training program is so well thought out and effective that I am confident that I will be able to perform my duties with complete professionalism. He feels lucky to have the opportunity to work in Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant.
The trainees return to the country and receive training again in the Rooppur project for a fixed period. This training is imparted at the training academy set up at the project site. Apart from experts from Rosatom Technical Academy, Bangladeshi experts conduct the training program. Those who successfully complete the training are required to appear for the Basic Licensing Examination and thereafter qualify to receive the Bair’s License Endorsement.
Accidents like Chernobyl or Fukushima are always mentioned when discussing the safety of nuclear power plants. Experts feel that there is no such fear in Rooppur due to technical reasons. However, to avoid all other risks, there is no alternative to maximum precautions, said Professor Shafiqul Islam, a nuclear researcher. This teacher of the nuclear engineering department of Dhaka University thinks that the issue of safety should be contained. It should be put into practice. Or any technical or human error can cause major accidents!
The Buleysk Nuclear Power Plant has been one of the mainstays of uninterrupted power supply in Russia’s Sverdlovsk Region for the past six decades. The first two units of the center are of the first generation nuclear technology AMB reactors, while the third unit has BN 600 and the fourth unit, which came into production in 2015, has BN 800 reactors. The BN 800 reactor is considered three plus generation technology. And the VVER-1200 reactor of Rooppur nuclear power plant is also of similar technology. The Russian company that is building nuclear power plants in Bangladesh is also involved in the management of Russia’s Bulask power plant – Rosatom.
According to Ilya Filin, First Deputy Chief Engineer of Russia’s BNPP, the main message of Russia’s nuclear power project is that power plants will benefit people, be safe and environmentally friendly. And Rosatom is successfully applying this philosophy. Projects in Bangladesh, Egypt, India and Hungary are examples of that.
However, there are always questions about the safety of nuclear power plants.
Taking Russia’s Buleysk nuclear power plant as an example, the plant started out with a technology that was more advanced than the Rooppur nuclear reactor. Russian engineers also think that Rooppur is progressing quite safely.
In addition to imparting professional training to experts in the management of sensitive nuclear power projects, their physical and mental qualifications are also verified. Rosatom Technical Academy Safety Culture and Personal Reliability Competency Center studies the psycho-physiological status of each trainee.
According to the Rooppur Project Authority, the process of creating experts is progressing very successfully and very soon Bangladeshis will be able to take responsibility for operating nuclear power plants independently.
