RNPP gets nod for power start-up
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) has moved a step closer to generating electricity, with the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) approving power start-up activities for Unit-1 following the completion of required physical start-up tests.
The approval allows the plant to enter Stage-C, the power start-up phase, during which engineers will gradually increase reactor power, test the performance of major systems and prepare the unit for trial electricity supply to the national grid.
Dr Zahedul Hassan, managing director of Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), confirmed the development on Thursday evening, October 29. He said BAERA Chairman M Mahmudul Hasan had granted permission to begin the activities.
Project officials said trial electricity supply could begin next month if the remaining tests and commissioning activities proceed as scheduled.
The approval follows the completion of the B-2 phase, which included physics tests and other necessary activities.
Test reports were subsequently submitted to BAERA for review before the regulator cleared the plant to proceed to the next stage.
During Stage-C, engineers will test the reactor, primary and secondary coolant systems, turbine-generator, electrical equipment, instrumentation and control systems, and safety and protection mechanisms under operating conditions.
The tests will assess whether the systems function safely and reliably, both individually and in coordination with one another.
Reactor power will initially be kept at a low level before being increased gradually, subject to test results and technical assessments.
Engineers will closely monitor the performance of major equipment, with particular attention to turbine controls, generator operations and associated electrical systems.
One of the major milestones will be synchronising the generator with the national grid and assessing its ability to supply electricity reliably.
Project sources said trial power supply could begin when the reactor reaches 30-35% of its thermal power.
Officials expect Unit-1 to supply at least 300MW to the national grid by December this year, provided the required tests are completed successfully.
The timeline, however, will depend on commissioning progress, technical findings and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The transition to power start-up does not mean the plant is ready for commercial operation. Officials said completing Stage-C tests, beginning trial electricity supply and entering commercial operation are separate milestones.
Technical testing and commissioning must continue, and all regulatory conditions must be met before commercial generation can begin.
Close coordination among BAERA, the Ministry of Science and Technology, national grid operators and agencies responsible for security, law enforcement and nuclear emergency preparedness will also be important as the plant advances through the start-up process.
Rooppur, located in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna, has two units with a capacity of 1,200MW each, giving the plant a total planned capacity of 2,400MW.
Once fully operational, the facility is expected to increase Bangladesh’s electricity generation capacity, diversify its energy mix and strengthen energy security.
The plant uses Russia’s Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor technology, with a designed operational life of 60 years.
Experts say the operating life of nuclear plants can potentially be extended through appropriate maintenance, investment and regulatory oversight, subject to technical assessments and safety requirements.
The project’s original completion deadline was December 2025. Following two extensions, the deadline was revised to June 2028.
Its estimated cost has also risen amid factors including exchange-rate movements and other financial considerations, with the current estimate standing at Tk138,686 crore.
