Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Preparations for nuclear fuel loading in the country’s first Rooppur nuclear project are underway in early November. The final stage of commissioning of the project is reached by loading fuel (nuclear fuel) in the first unit. If the fuel loading starts in November, the project can be started by the end of this year, said project officials. A 14-member IAEA Pre-OSERT (Pre-Observation of Nuclear Projects) team arrived in Rooppur on Sunday (August 10) to monitor preparations for the start of power generation in Rooppur, according to project sources. The IAEA team will monitor the overall safety issues by August 27 and submit a final report, according to top project officials.
Project officials say that the final start-up date has not yet been determined. Although all preparations have been made, fuel loading and approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are required to reach the final start-up stage on time.
The Rooppur nuclear project is awaiting approval from the IAEA.
Project Site Director Engineer Ashraful Islam said that all the necessary tests of the first unit are being completed with the aim of loading fuel in November. Already, tests of many components have been successfully completed. Thousands of tests have to be completed, including the tests necessary for safety. He also said that the safety risks of the ‘hot and cold test’ at high steam pressure have been initially monitored for safety. These tests are ongoing with the target of loading fuel in November. He also expressed hope that all the tests can be successfully completed before the fuel load.
