Depreciation push further up Rooppur project cost

Business Desk :

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Project’s cost has increased by Tk13,386 crore taking the total to Tk126,479 crore, according to the first revised proposal. The initial 2016 estimate was Tk113,093 crore.

The rise is mainly due to the depreciation of the Bangladeshi taka against the US dollar. The $11.38?billion Russian loan remains unchanged in dollar terms but its value in taka has risen to Tk104,004 crore from Tk91,040 crore, a Tk12,964 crore increase purely from exchange rate adjustments.

Up to June 2025, $8.29?billion has been used at $1 = Tk80, while the remaining $3.09?billion is now estimated at $1= Tk122, as declared by Bangladesh Bank in October 2025.

The government’s contribution has increased slightly from Tk22,053 crore to Tk22,475 crore.
Other factors behind the cost increase include civil works, equipment imports, technical consultancy, security, training, and a revised design to meet international safety standards, including enhanced environmental monitoring and cybersecurity systems.

The project’s completion timeline has been extended to June 2028, up from December 2025, following delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and dollar crisis. The first 1,200?MW unit is now scheduled for commercial operation in 2026, with fuel loading for trial runs planned for December 2025.

As of August 2025, the project has achieved 74.24percent physical progress and is being built by Russian contractor Atomstroyexport. Officials stress that the revisions aim to ensure the plant is safe, sustainable, and operationally effective.