NPCBL dismisses concerns over Rooppur Unit-1 fault

The operating company of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) has stated that there is no reason for public concern or confusion regarding a technical deviation identified during the commissioning phase of the plant’s first unit. According to the company, detecting and correcting such minor issues before commercial operation is a normal and mandatory part of the commissioning process.

Recent claims circulating on social media and in some media outlets suggested that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant had been shut down due to a serious technical fault even before beginning operations, raising public concern. However, NPCBL Managing Director Dr. Zahedul Hasan firmly rejected these reports, describing them as misleading and detached from reality.

Speaking to the media on Monday (15 June), he said, “Safety remains our highest priority. There is no room for compromise on this issue. Distorted and misleading information being circulated by certain quarters is creating unnecessary public anxiety, which has no connection with the actual situation.”

Dr. Hasan explained that before the plant enters commercial operation, multiple safety and performance tests are conducted in accordance with international standards under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA). The identification of minor deviations during these tests is, in fact, evidence that the safety systems are functioning effectively.