Energy Bangla

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Dhaka Friday,  Mar 29, 2024

Reactor Vessel Reached Mongla, PM To Inaugurate

EB Report

The reactor of the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) has just reached the port of Mongla along with the steam generator. The reactor vessel which is a crucial component to the RNPP is made in Russia. The reactor started its voyage from the Volga river of Russia and outer anchorage on Monday crossing approximately 14,000 km of waterways. The reactor reached the port jetty on Tuesday.

A Russian Federation ship anchored at Mongla port will discharge the reactor on 5th November and then a special local barge will bring it to the RNPP river port at Pabna using the Chandpur river route. The reactor is expected to reach the RNPP port on 20th or 21st November.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the reactor pressure vessel installation program. Science and Technology Minister Architect Yafes Osman said that the reactor pressure vessel and the steam generator of the first unit of RNPP have successfully reached Bangladesh. He claimed the event as a landmark one. He also said that this event will be marked as a milestone achievement in the development of Bangladesh.

Managing Director of Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Ltd. and Project Director of RNPP Dr. Md. Shaukat Akbar told Energy Bangla that this event can be marked as one of the major achievements in implementing RNPP. This reactor vessel is one of the most important components of the RNPP and the installation of the reactor is likely to start early next year, he added.

The reactor was built at the AEM-technology facility in Volgodonsk, Russia. Two separate cranes each having a capacity of 308 tons were built at the jetty to discharge the reactor. To install these two cranes, another crane with a capacity of 600 tons is to be brought to the facility. Besides, the construction of other reactor infrastructure is almost done.

Both the units of RNPP will accommodate the state-of-the-art ‘VVER-1200 reactor’ of ‘3+ generation’. The lifetime of the reactors is 60 years which can be extended for another 20 years if needed.

The total cost of implementing the RNPP is estimated as TK 1 lac 13 thousand 92 crores and 91 lac or $12.65 billion. Russia is about to provide $11.38 billion for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as a loan which is 90 percent of the total estimated cost. Bangladesh has already signed the $11.38 billion credit deal with the Russian Federation. Bangladesh will pay off the loan within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.

The power plant has two separate units and it is expected to provide an uninterruptible power supply with having a maximum capacity of 2400 MW. The first unit of the RNPP having a capacity of 1200 MW is expected to begin operation by 2023, said the related sources. The second unit of the RNPP having an equal amount of capacity is also expected to be commissioned in 2024.

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