Safety under scrutiny at Rooppur

Fresh questions are being raised over security and management at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), with a series of incidents and reported political activities inside the sensitive project area prompting concerns that disruptions could delay the long-awaited start of electricity generation.

Although authorities have not linked any of the incidents to a deliberate attempt to obstruct the project, officials and experts say the recurrence of fires, internal disputes and unauthorised activities warrants a comprehensive investigation into whether weaknesses in security and management could hamper commissioning.

The latest concern followed a fire that broke out at about 4am on Monday at an old Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) office building near Gate No 2.

The blaze damaged a server room, electrical equipment, computers, air-conditioning units and official documents, while internal internet services were disrupted.

Project authorities formed an investigation committee and initially suspected an electrical short circuit. The investigation is continuing.

The incident has nevertheless raised questions over fire protection, access control and surveillance at a facility designated a Key Point Installation (KPI), where security arrangements involve multiple agencies, including the armed forces and law-enforcement authorities.

Concerns were heightened by reports of political activities inside the project area on August 15.

Supporters of the now-banned Awami League allegedly gathered there to observe the anniversary of the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also reportedly placed inside the project area that night.

Following a review of CCTV footage, a man identified as Sabbir, reportedly employed by a Russian contractor, was detained. A case was subsequently filed and he was produced before a court.

Police sought his remand for further questioning, but the court rejected the plea.

Senior project officials reportedly believe further questioning could have helped establish whether others were involved in placing the portrait or organising activities inside the restricted area.

The reported gatherings have raised questions over whether access controls and security protocols are being strictly enforced.

Such concerns are not new. Last year, a section of Rooppur officials and employees staged demonstrations and sit-ins over various demands, including the removal of the project’s managing director.

The protests reportedly continued for several days and included gatherings inside the project premises.

A security official involved with the project said a nuclear facility requires a fundamentally different level of discipline from an ordinary industrial establishment.

“Any unauthorised gathering, political activity or movement inside a sensitive nuclear installation should be treated seriously,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Security protocols exist to prevent not only direct attacks but also situations that could create opportunities for deliberate or accidental incidents.”

He said the combination of political activities, workplace disputes and the latest fire warranted a comprehensive review of security arrangements.

There have also been concerns over incidents and management at the project in previous years. A fire broke out inside a container at the Rooppur project at about noon on August 9, 2019, destroying some unused materials.

A former BAEC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a controlled fission reaction in the reactor was expected to begin within 45 days of fuel loading, with electricity normally connected to the national grid within three months after testing and commissioning.

At a Belarusian nuclear power plant using the same technology, electricity was connected to the grid in less than three months, while it took another seven months or so to reach full capacity.

Officials had said the technology used at Rooppur was well tested, but such complications had not previously been encountered in Bangladesh.

Questions were also raised over a lack of spare equipment, poor coordination among officials and the competence of project management.

The then project director, Dr Md Kabir Hossain, had been appointed despite having no field-level experience, while objections to his appointment had reportedly been raised from the beginning. He was given responsibility over three more experienced officials.

Professor Dr Md Shafiqul Islam of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Dhaka criticised the holding of programmes inside the project area during the protests.

“There is no precedent anywhere in the world for holding such programmes inside a highly sensitive and security-controlled nuclear plant area. If this continues, operating the power plant will become dangerous.

Safety culture, security culture, and the code of conduct must all be strictly followed.

The incidents taking place at the project are deeply unfortunate. Such activities are an obstacle to operating the nuclear power plant peacefully and safely,” he said.

The concerns come as Rooppur enters a crucial phase of commissioning. The first unit is undergoing extensive testing before connection to the national grid. The project is expected to supply around 300MW in trial generation before eventually reaching its full capacity of 1,200MW.

Rooppur authorities have conducted emergency and fire-response exercises involving the police, Fire Service and Civil Defence, health authorities and the nuclear regulator.

The authorities have repeatedly maintained that safety remains the highest priority and that no commissioning stage can proceed without the required tests and regulatory approvals.

Experts say, however, that physical security alone is insufficient. Strict adherence to safety and security procedures, effective access control, surveillance and internal discipline are essential to prevent avoidable disruptions.

Against this backdrop, officials and experts have called for a transparent investigation into the latest fire, along with a review of CCTV footage, access-control records, fire-safety arrangements and security procedures.

They say any evidence of deliberate interference or attempts to obstruct commissioning should be identified and addressed promptly, particularly as the project moves towards trial generation.

For a nuclear facility nearing operation, they argue, preventing disruptions must remain the first line of defence.