Preparation completes for installation of second unit nuclear reactor at Rooppur Project

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

Extensive preparations are underway for the inauguration ceremony of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (Nuclear Reactor), the main equipment of the second unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant under construction at Ishwardi. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will officially inaugurate the installation of this reactor reactor through a video conference on Wednesday. Alexei Likhachev, Director General of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency Rosatom, will attend the event as a special guest. It is said that he will reach the venue from Dhaka by helicopter on Wednesday morning.
The Minister of Science and Technology Architect Yafes Osman is staying in Rooppur since Sunday. From the secretary of the ministry, the chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission to the high-ranking officials will arrive by Monday. Already, high officials and Russian journalists have started coming from Russia. About 50 journalists are reported to be brought from Dhaka to cover the reactor pressure vessel (nuclear reactor) installation live. Also, foreign journalists are also present at the event, project sources said.
Science and Technology Minister Architect Yafes Osman said that the Bengali nation is grateful to the father of the nation and his daughter for implementing the nuclear project in Bangladesh.
Russia is Bangladesh’s good friend. Bangladesh will rise to a unique position in the world civilization due to the installation of reactor pressure vessels.
Project Director Dr. Shawkat Akbar said, we are working to implement the project as soon as possible. In the meantime, 75 percent of the physical-infrastructure work of the first unit has been completed. At the same time, the reactor pressure vessel is being installed here as the work of the second unit is progressing rapidly. Each device goes through the highest level of testing and is installed as per the design. For this, the certificate of the regulatory authority has to be taken.
Earlier, on October 10, 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the installation of the reactor pressure vessel of the first unit through video conferencing from Dhaka. It is the biggest project in the history of Bangladesh. Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, work in Rooppur did not stop for a day. About 25-26 thousand local and foreign people worked day and night in this project in three shifts every day.
What will sit in the reactor building?
The two circular buildings in the project area are the reactor buildings. On October 10, 2021, the reactor pressure vessel of the first unit was installed in one of them.
The reactor pressure vessel can be called the heart of the power plant. Nuclear equipment has been placed on different levels of this building. Installation of pressurizer, coolant pump and hydro accumulator has already been completed among the five types of machines.
The steam generator will be installed immediately after the installation of the reactor pressure vessel. This will end the installation of all types of nuclear equipment.
Background of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project:
In 1960, during the erstwhile Pakistan government, the initiative to build nuclear power project was taken. In view of this initiative, between 1962 and 1968, Ishwardi’s Rooppur on the banks of the Padma River was chosen as the site for the construction of a nuclear power plant. During this period, 260 acres for the project and 32 acres for housing were acquired for land development, offices, rest houses, electrical sub-stations and construction of some residential units. Around 1969-70, the then government of Pakistan changed its decision to implement this 200 MW power generation project and moved it to Karachi, Pakistan. After the independence of the country, the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the initiative to produce 200 MW of nuclear power here around 1972-74. After the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation in 1975, this project was nipped in the bud.
Feasibility study completed between 1977-1986 by MS Sopratom suggested early construction of Rooppur nuclear power station.
 Another feasibility study was completed in 1987-88 by two companies from Germany and Switzerland. This study supports previous studies. At that time, ECNEC approved the construction of 125 MW power project.
But it was suspended due to lack of funding. It is proposed to implement the project jointly with Germany to raise funds. After coming to power in 1996, the Awami League government recommended the implementation of the Rooppur project in the ‘National Energy Policy-1996’. At this time, the prominent nuclear scientist of the country. MA Wazed Mia played an active role in the implementation of the project.
Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission in 1997-2000. MA Wazed Mia drew the attention of the government to the construction of Rooppur nuclear power project.
Human resource development and Bangladesh Nuclear Power Action Plan approved by the government for the implementation of the project. At that time Dr. MA Wazed Miya Ishwardi came to Rooppur and visited the nuclear power project area. Dr. to implement the project. When MA Wazed Miya came to Rooppur, the people of Rooppur gave him a grand welcome. After BNP came to power in 2001, the initiative to implement the project slowed down again.
Tasks performed by the Awami League government in the implementation of Rooppur project:
In the election manifesto of Awami League in 2008, the implementation of Rooppur nuclear power project was promised. Based on this commitment, in 2009, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and the State Atomic Energy Commission (ROSATOM) of the Russian Federation signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ on the ‘Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy’. In 2010, the ‘Framework Agreement’ was signed between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the Russian Federation. A National Committee was formed under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister for the smooth implementation of the project. A working group and eight sub-groups were formed under the chairmanship of the Minister-in-charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology and a working group headed by the Secretary to monitor the progress of the project. On November 10, 2010, the decision to build Rooppur Nuclear Power Project was taken in the National Parliament. On November 2, 2011, in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, an agreement on cooperation in project construction was signed between the Russian Federation and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project Commencement Chapter:
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the project on October 2, 2014. Former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Kiriyenko and ministers of various ministries were present. After the inauguration, the construction of the country’s first nuclear power project is underway. The officials and employees of all levels working in the project are working hard day and night under the direction of the Prime Minister and are moving the work forward rapidly. Science and Technology Affairs Minister Architect Yafes Osman visits Ishwardi’s Rooppur 1-2 times every month to monitor the progress of the project.
The country’s first nuclear power plant is being constructed at Rooppur in Ishwardi in collaboration with the Russian state agency Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom. According to the agreement, the work of two units of 1,200 1,200 units of third plus generation with a total power generation capacity of 2400 MW is being rapidly progressed. The project is targeted for completion in December 2025.