Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, boasting a generating capacity of 2.4 GW, stands as one of Bangladesh’s premier mega development projects implemented by Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology has proposed an augmentation of BDT [Bangladesh Taka] 7.06 billion in the Annual Development Program (ADP).
The Planning Commission is actively working on addressing this proposal. Sources suggest that the revised ADP is set to be unveiled at the upcoming National Economic Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for February 27. The meeting, shall be chaired by Prime Minister and NEC Chairperson Sheikh Hasina.
Sources from the Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Department (IMED) told Blitz, the physical progress of the Rooppur nuclear power plant project has reached 62.74 percent since its inception until December last year. A total expenditure of BDT 68,248,23 crore [one crore is equivalent to 100 million] has been incurred under the project. Financially, the progress stands at 60.35 percent, with 1,1392.92 crore taka allocated for its implementation.
The project, scheduled for implementation between July 2016 and December 2025, faced delays in achieving its production target for the first unit by the end of the previous year. These delays were attributed to transmission line work disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, production at the Rooppur project is expected to commence by the year’s end. However, according to sources from the Economic Relations Department (ERD), challenges regarding the complexity of current debt repayment remain unresolved. Installment payments are being deposited into a special account.
According to sources, the Ministry of Science and Technology has included two additional projects related to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project in the same letter. These projects are the ‘Establishment of External Telecommunication Network for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant’ and the ‘Establishment of offsite water supply facilities at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant’.
For the telecommunication project, a total demand of Tk 136 crore 91 lakh has been proposed in the revised ADP, which is lower than the earlier demand of Tk 159 crore 50 lakh by Tk 32 crore 59 lakh. Additionally, allocation has been requested for the offsite water supply facilities project, which did not receive any allocation in the current financial year’s ADP. A sum of Tk 5 crore 59 lakh has been requested in the revised ADP for this purpose.
It is noteworthy that the Government of Bangladesh initiated the concept of establishing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project in 2009, subsequently signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia concerning the ‘Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy’ on 13 May 2009. Further, on 15 January 2013, an agreement was inked for a state export loan amounting to $500 million to support the preparatory phase of construction for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
In 2015, the Bangladesh government entered into a General Agreement (GC) with Moscow, amounting to US$ 12.65 billion, aimed at constructing nuclear power plants. Subsequently, in July 2016, Bangladesh signed a financing agreement with Russia, securing an US$ 11.385 billion loan designated for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP). This loan constitutes 90 percent of the total project cost.
Ministry of Science and Technology in Bangladesh has recently announced that the first unit of the plant is anticipated to be commissioned in July 2024, followed by the commissioning of the second unit in July 2025.
Congratulations to both the countries.
Russia is a time-tested friend of Bangladesh and India.
Yours is not a newspaper as you have been running propaganda on behalf of Kremlin.
Good decision.
Bangladesh requires more nuclear-based power generation plants.
This is a significant achievement.