Grid link will follow full safety checks

NPCBL chief Dr Md Zahedul Hasan says no compromise on safety as
Bangladesh’s first nuclear plant nears grid connection

With the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) preparing to connect its first 300MW to the national grid by the end of August, public debate has intensified over the project’s safety, readiness and long-term operation. Amid questions raised in recent media reports, The New Nation spoke to Dr Md Zahedul Hasan, Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), about the plant’s commissioning, regulatory oversight and preparedness.

The New Nation: Some recent editorials and reports have claimed that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is preparing to supply electricity to the national grid before completing all required tests, raising public concerns about safety. As the head of the operating organization, what is your response?

Dr. Hasan: First, I would like to assure the people of Bangladesh that there has been no compromise on safety at Rooppur, nor will there be. Nuclear power plant commissioning is a highly rigorous, step-by-step, and tightly regulated process. Grid synchronization is not the beginning of plant operation; it is simply one important milestone in the overall commissioning programme.

Before reaching this stage, more then two thousand of commissioning tests, safety verifications, system integration activities, operator readiness checks, and regulatory assessments must be completed. No commissioning stage can proceed unless all required tests are successfully completed and approved by the regulatory authority.

Some reports have created the impression that Rooppur is moving toward operation without completing the necessary tests. The reality is quite different. From the very beginning of the project, the scope, methodology, and acceptance criteria for every commissioning test were clearly defined. The results of each test are independently evaluated, and if they are not satisfactory, the project cannot move to the next stage. Therefore, claims that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is advancing toward operation while compromising safety do not reflect the actual status of the project.

The New Nation: Many people want to know the roles of the different organizations involved in the commissioning and operation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. What are the responsibilities of BAEC, NPCBL, BAERA, IAEA, Rosatom, CREA, VO Safety, and Rostechnadzor?

Dr. Hasan: Operating a nuclear power plant is a multi-layered process involving national and international technical, regulatory, and safety oversight. BAEC is the project owner, NPCBL is the designated operating organization responsible for commissioning, operation, maintenance, and future decommissioning, while BAERA is the independent regulator that licenses each stage. VO Safety independently reviews key commissioning milestones for BAERA. CREA (Rosenergoatom) supports commissioning, operator training, and knowledge transfer. Rostechnadzor shares regulatory expertise with BAERA, and the IAEA assesses Bangladesh’s preparedness through peer review and technical review missions. All major decisions are made only after independent technical evaluation, regulatory approval, and compliance with international safety standards.

The New Nation: Several review missions by the IAEA, BAERA, and other international organizations were conducted at Rooppur last year. What were their objectives, and what did they conclude?

Dr. Hasan: These missions independently assessed operational readiness, safety culture, security, and commissioning capability. They included the IAEA’s Test Pre-OSART, Pre-OSART, and IPPAS missions, BAERA’s Comprehensive Regulatory Inspection, and a joint self-assessment by BAEC, NPCBL, and CREA. Their findings were highly positive. Recommendations from the Test Pre-OSART and Pre-OSART missions have been implemented, while IPPAS recommendations are nearly complete. BAERA, VO Safety, and international experts confirmed that commissioning is progressing in line with international safety standards. The IAEA Deputy Director General also praised NPCBL’s preparedness during a recent visit, reflecting growing international confidence in Bangladesh’s operational capability.

The New Nation: Some believe NPCBL has not yet developed the capability required to operate Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant. What is your assessment of its human resources, training, and operational readiness?

Dr. Hasan: A strong safety culture and a highly skilled workforce are the foundation of nuclear power plant operation. Over the past decade, Bangladesh has invested heavily in developing qualified personnel. Hundreds of engineers, operators, reactor specialists, chemists, radiation protection, and maintenance experts have received extensive training in Russia and elsewhere, including Full-Scope Simulator, on-the-job, and classroom training. All operators must also pass BAERA’s rigorous licensing process. During commissioning, CREA experts are working alongside NPCBL staff to transfer knowledge and international best practices. As a result, NPCBL has developed into a technically, operationally, and institutionally capable operating organization for Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant.

The New Nation: There has been considerable discussion about spent fuel management. Some claim that Russia has not signed a final agreement to take back spent fuel and that Bangladesh lacks adequate radioactive waste management facilities. What is the actual situation?

Dr. Hasan: These concerns largely stem from limited understanding of international nuclear industry practices. The Spent Fuel Take Back Agreement between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Rosatom has already been signed. In addition, BAEC and TVEL have a long-term Framework Agreement for nuclear fuel supply. Under IAEA safety standards, spent fuel is not shipped abroad immediately after removal from the reactor. It is first safely stored and cooled in the plant’s Spent Fuel Pool, a standard practice at modern nuclear power plants worldwide. Its subsequent management is carried out in accordance with existing intergovernmental agreements, commercial arrangements, and regulatory approvals. Therefore, claims that there is no plan or agreement for spent fuel management are not consistent with the facts.

The New Nation: Some reports claim that Russia will supply nuclear fuel only for the first three years and that long-term fuel supply remains uncertain. They also say the long-term Operation & Maintenance (O&M) agreement has not yet been finalized. What is the actual situation?

Dr. Hasan: These claims are based on misconceptions. BAEC and Russia’s TVEL have already signed a Framework Agreement covering nuclear fuel supply for the entire operating life of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Therefore, claims that fuel supply will become uncertain after the first three years are incorrect. Fuel deliveries are implemented under a long-term planned schedule. Regarding the O&M Agreement, international practice is to finalize such agreements during the final stages of commissioning, when operational needs, technical support, and responsibilities are fully defined. Rooppur is currently at that stage, and Bangladesh and Russia are making good progress toward finalizing the long-term O&M and related technical support agreements.

The New Nation: Some reports say that the electricity tariff and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for Rooppur have not yet been finalized. Is this a matter of concern?

Dr. Hasan: The tariff is a commercial and financial matter, not a safety or commissioning issue. It is determined by considering construction costs, long-term operation and maintenance, fuel, financing, and decommissioning costs. Similarly, the PPA is a commercial agreement governing electricity sales and pricing and has no connection with commissioning safety or technical readiness. In many countries, nuclear plant tariffs and PPAs are finalized during the final stages of commissioning or shortly before commercial operation. Therefore, the fact that the tariff and PPA are still being finalized should not be interpreted as a deficiency in Rooppur’s safety or commissioning preparedness.

The New Nation: Many people have raised concerns about grid stability, emergency preparedness, and public safety once the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant begins operation. What preparations have been made?

Dr. Hasan: Nuclear safety depends not only on reactor design but also on comprehensive national preparedness. Since the project’s inception, Bangladesh has strengthened grid readiness, emergency response, radiation monitoring, medical support, firefighting, law enforcement, and local administrative preparedness. PGCB has completed the required transmission upgrades, grid studies, and protection coordination. Integrated emergency, fire, and security drills have also been successfully conducted. Rooppur has Defence-in-Depth, an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, and radiation and environmental monitoring systems in place, all of which have been reviewed through international assessments, including the IAEA’s IPPAS Mission. Public safety remains the highest priority.

The New Nation: Many people compare Rooppur’s safety with the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents. What are the key differences between the modern VVER-1200 technology and those older plants, and why should the public have confidence in Rooppur?

Dr. Hasan: While Chernobyl and Fukushima provided important lessons for the nuclear industry, their reactor technologies are fundamentally different from Rooppur’s Generation III+ VVER-1200 design. Chernobyl used an RBMK reactor, and Fukushima used a Generation II BWR, whereas the VVER-1200 incorporates lessons learned from past accidents and includes advanced safety features such as double containment, a core catcher, passive heat removal, emergency core cooling, hydrogen recombiners, and severe accident management systems. In addition, every stage of operation will be subject to strict regulatory oversight, international review, and licensed, highly trained personnel. Therefore, directly comparing Rooppur with older-generation plants is technically inaccurate, as its safety is based on modern technology, international standards, and multiple independent layers of oversight.

The New Nation: The commissioning process at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant appears long and complex. Some people believe that the longer it takes, the more problems the project has. Why does commissioning take so much time?

Dr. Hasan: Nuclear power plant commissioning is one of the most rigorous and tightly regulated industrial processes in the world. Unlike conventional power plants, it cannot begin operation simply after construction is completed. Every system, component, and safety feature must undergo step-by-step testing, verification, and integrated evaluation, with hundreds of acceptance criteria to be met before moving forward. Rooppur follows the same international standards, with oversight from BAEC, BAERA, VO Safety, CREA, Rostechnadzor, and international experts. If any test does not meet the required standards, corrective actions are taken and the test is repeated. Therefore, a longer commissioning period is not a sign of weakness—it reflects the internationally accepted approach to ensuring nuclear safety.

The New Nation: Recent reports, opinions, and misinformation have created public confusion. What is your message to the people of Bangladesh?

Dr. Hasan: The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is Bangladesh’s largest and most technologically advanced infrastructure project. Its safety and operational readiness are ensured through multi-layered oversight by the Ministry of Science and Technology, BAEC, BAERA, VO Safety, CREA, Rostechnadzor, and the IAEA. I want to assure the public that there will be no compromise on safety. Every commissioning test, safety assessment, and regulatory approval must be completed before advancing to the next stage. Rooppur is not just a power plant—it is a symbol of Bangladesh’s energy security, technological capability, and future development. I encourage everyone to rely on verified information, scientific evidence, and internationally recognized sources when forming opinions about the project. NPCBL remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of safety.

(The interview was conducted by Swapan Kumar Kundu, Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent of The New Nation.)