Energy Bangla

Energy electricity and environment news portal

Dhaka Friday,  Mar 29, 2024

Trilateral MoU To Be Sign To Operate Ruppur NPP

EB Report

India is about to be adjoined with the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project. A trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among Bangladesh, Russia, and India might get inked within this month, claimed sources. Once it’s finalized, India will start assisting Bangladesh and Russia to build and operate the Ruppur NPP. A Bangladeshi delegation will visit Russia in 19th November to finalize the MoU.

Science and Technology Minister Yafes Osman said to Energybangla that, the delegation will meet the concerned Russian authority and the trilateral MoU or deal might get inked if everyone agrees. India intends to provide all kinds of cooperation, including the security of this project, he added. He also said that, Bangladesh lacks experience in Nuclear Power sector, where India may help us as they have gone much far in this sector.

Bangladesh doesn’t have a much technical expertise to ensure the quality of the imported equipment, and parts that will be needed to build the NPP power plant. India may come up here with expertise in quality checking as well as some homemade local instruments.

Sources from Science and technology ministry informed that, India sent a draft MoU proposing their participation in this Ruppur NPP project in last September. Bangladesh is now examining the draft titled “India-Russia-Bangladesh cooperation MoU for successful implementation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project”.

According to the draft MoU, its Article- 2 says, exchanges will be made of knowledge and experience, advisory services, technical assistance and assets in boosting the skill and capability of the workers, including the running of the power plant safely as well as ensuring its security. It further said the parties concerned will help enhance advisory and technical capability in the fields of construction, running, regulating and maintenance in waste management and refining at the power plant. Where applicable, they will exchange experience in running and maintenance of the power plant.

However, the draft also says, the three parties will be able to cooperate in other aspects, including the supply of equipment, machinery and accessories to the plant on the basis of their consensus in writing.

Article-1 states that, the trilateral MoU shall not contradict with any of the member country’s internal law, any bilateral deal, or shall not violate any of the international conventions, safeguard measures of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Article-6 says that, the MoU will stay valid for 15 years, but any member country can nullify the deal with a 6 months’ notice period. The MoU can be renewed by mutual consent at one year before it times out.

Russian state-owned Rosatom will build this Nuclear Power plant for Bangladesh, which will have a total capacity of 2,400MW with two separate VVER unit. The first unit of this plant is likely to be in operation by the year of 2023 and the second one is to be operational by the October of 2024. Each of the units will have a capacity of generating 1,200 MW of electricity with a lifespan of roughly 80-90 years.

Total estimated cost of this NPP is 12.65b USD. Russia will provide 90 percent of the total cost as state credit at four per cent interest. Russia and Bangladesh would invest in this project on a ratio of 90:10.
Bangladesh will have to pay back the credit in 28 years with a 10-year grace period.

A credit deal was signed on July 26th this year. According to the deal, Russia is about to invest $11.38 billion for the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant which is 90 percent of the total estimated cost $12.65 billion.

Comment here