Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom is keen to develop further cooperation for the countries under construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, (RNPP). The keenness to cooperate in RNPP was extended when Director General (DG) of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev visited Bangladesh and called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office recently. They discussed issues of bilateral cooperation related to use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
During his official visit to Bangladesh Likhachev also held meetings with the Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen and the Minister for Science and Technology Architect Yeafesh Osman.
Alexey Likhachev and Yeafesh Osman signed a package of documents on operation, maintenance and fuel supply for RNPP on March 16. A protocol to amend the intergovernmental agreement was also signed earlier between Russia and Bangladesh on RNPP construction in the territory of Bangladesh.
The Protocol established Bangladesh’s right to engage the Russian company on a long-term basis to help in the operation, maintenance and repair of power units-1 and 2 of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, as well as to supply the equipment, expendable materials, spare parts, and to provide training for maintenance crews in course of operations of the plant. This will enable the Rosatom State Corporation to carry out maintenance, operational support and repair of the Rooppur NPP throughout its entire life cycle.
In addition, a package of appendixes to the contract for supply of nuclear fuel for Rooppur NPP was signed between Russian company TVEL and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, in presence of Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Architect Yeafesh Osman. The contract will remain valid untill the end of operational lifetime of both power units of Rooppur NPP.
The RNPP is the first nuclear power plant outside Russia being constructed under the project of Generation III + (NPP-2006) and switched to an eighteen-month fuel cycle.
Likhachev along with the accompanying delegates also visited the construction site of the Rooppur NPP and Green City, a special residential area built for Russian specialists.
Members of the delegation were acquainted with the progress of work at the NPP site and facilities at the Green City.
“The construction has gained considerable pace. It is gratifying to see that our specialists are enjoying full living facilities, having the opportunity to engage themselves in leisure activities and receiving medical care at this specially constructed district.”
Rosatom DG noted Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW is being constructed under the Russian design in accordance with the general contract signed on December 25, 2015. The general contractor for Rooppur NPP construction is Atomstroyexport, Engineering Division of Rosatom. Each phase of Rooppur NPP construction in Bangladesh is under the strict control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the National Regulatory Authority.
