Bangladesh PM inaugurates Rooppur 2 reactor vessel installation
20 October 2022
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hailed the benefits to come at an event coinciding with the installation of the reactor pressure vessel at Rooppur 2, the second unit of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant.
Unit 2 is due to begin operation in 2024 (Image: Rosatom)
The prime minister joined the event virtually, saying: "Rooppur NPP will help us provide a better life for our compatriots. Once again, I thank Russia for helping to build this power plant. We paid attention to the overall safety and reliability of the construction of a nuclear power plant. Safety was our main concern."
Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachov, who is visiting Bangladesh, marked the occasion saying: "A year ago, we witnessed the installation of the first reactor vessel in its regular place, and today the same operation was completed at the second reactor. We see that the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh is proceeding actively, despite the obstacles that the pandemic has created for us.
"I am sincerely grateful to the entire team of builders for their well-coordinated work. I express my gratitude to the authorities of the Republic of Bangladesh for their full support of the project. Together, every day we bring closer the launch of the nuclear power plant, which the people of Bangladesh are waiting for."
The Dhaka Tribune reports that during a visit to the construction site on Tuesday the Science and Technology minister Yeafesh Osman said the overall project was now 53% complete, and the first unit more than 70% complete.
The newspaper reported the Rooppur NPP Project Director Shaukat Akbar as saying they were hoping to meet the target of starting production of the first unit on a trial basis in October 2023 and "be fully ready to supply in 2024".
The Rooppur plant, which is about 160 kilometres from the capital Dhaka, will have two Russian VVER-1200 reactors with a capacity of 2400 MWe. As part of the installation process the 334-tonne reactor vessel was moved through the transport lock into the containment of the reactor building and installed in the design position.
During his visit, Likhachov also took part in the opening ceremony of the station's new training centre where staff from Bangladesh will be trained in specialised classrooms and production facilities.
Researched and written by World Nuclear News