Published: 12:00 AM, 11 April 2016
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Unit sale rate Tk 3.5
Underway construction works of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: Tarik Sajib
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project will start producing 2,400 megawatt power under its two phases by 2022. Each of the phases of RNPP has the power generation capacity of 1,200 MW and the sale rate of power per unit will be Tk 3.5.
Regarding this Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology M Serajul Huq Khan said, "We expect that the first phase of the much-awaited project will go for power generation in 2022 and the second phase in 2023." A group of journalists visited the RNPP project site to see for themselves the progress of work of the project. Addressing a press briefing at the project office of the RNPP in Ishwardi on Saturday, he said per unit sale price of the electricity to be produced in this project would be Tk 3.5.
He said, "Eighty percent of the first phase of RNPP project's ground work has been completed so far which will end by this year and the project foundation stone will be laid by August 2017." He has said the government is going to sign a credit agreement with Russia in this month or in May. But the main construction work of the project will start in August next year with a target to commission the first 1,200 MW unit in 2022 and the second unit in 2023. Regarding the sustainability of the plant, Khan said its lifetime would be 50 years and could be extended by another 30 years. "The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Haisna has undertaken the mega project to establish the country's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur as per international standard," he said. He also said, Bangladesh will repay the loan in next 28 years. It's a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He agreed to provide the soft loan to Bangladesh to construct the plant, paying his country's highest tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who visited Russia soon after the independence.
During the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Russia, an agreement was signed between the two countries to construct the plant. Since it is a new power plant in Bangladesh, Khan said, "We are holding meetings with the Indian experts to gain some experience from them on nuclear power plant management and operation." In a quarry on waste management of the plant, he said, "All the produced garbage will go to Russia. They will take it by their own cost. So our environment will not be harmed.
"We are focusing on making a number of manpower who can lead the plant after its working begins. Russian scientists are helping us a lot to produce such human resource." Replying to another question - if any accident occurs who will take the liabilities? Project Director Dr Md Shawkat Akbar has said on the basis of contract, the operator will be liable for any accident taking place.
According to the project details, Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom is building the 2,400 MW nuclear power plant as the contractor at a total cost of $12.65 billion. Of the total amount, Russia will provide $11.385 billion, 90 percent, as state credit for the project while Bangladesh will spend $1.265 billion, 10 percent of the total cost. Bangladesh has to pay back the money in the next 28 years with an 8-year grace period.
Project Director Shawkat Akbar has further said the plant's development works are progressing as per schedule. In April 2013, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the establishment of the first phase of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project. It is the biggest project in terms of investment. The plant will be set up on 105 hectares of land in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna.
Regarding this Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology M Serajul Huq Khan said, "We expect that the first phase of the much-awaited project will go for power generation in 2022 and the second phase in 2023." A group of journalists visited the RNPP project site to see for themselves the progress of work of the project. Addressing a press briefing at the project office of the RNPP in Ishwardi on Saturday, he said per unit sale price of the electricity to be produced in this project would be Tk 3.5.
He said, "Eighty percent of the first phase of RNPP project's ground work has been completed so far which will end by this year and the project foundation stone will be laid by August 2017." He has said the government is going to sign a credit agreement with Russia in this month or in May. But the main construction work of the project will start in August next year with a target to commission the first 1,200 MW unit in 2022 and the second unit in 2023. Regarding the sustainability of the plant, Khan said its lifetime would be 50 years and could be extended by another 30 years. "The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Haisna has undertaken the mega project to establish the country's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur as per international standard," he said. He also said, Bangladesh will repay the loan in next 28 years. It's a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He agreed to provide the soft loan to Bangladesh to construct the plant, paying his country's highest tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who visited Russia soon after the independence.
During the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Russia, an agreement was signed between the two countries to construct the plant. Since it is a new power plant in Bangladesh, Khan said, "We are holding meetings with the Indian experts to gain some experience from them on nuclear power plant management and operation." In a quarry on waste management of the plant, he said, "All the produced garbage will go to Russia. They will take it by their own cost. So our environment will not be harmed.
"We are focusing on making a number of manpower who can lead the plant after its working begins. Russian scientists are helping us a lot to produce such human resource." Replying to another question - if any accident occurs who will take the liabilities? Project Director Dr Md Shawkat Akbar has said on the basis of contract, the operator will be liable for any accident taking place.
According to the project details, Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom is building the 2,400 MW nuclear power plant as the contractor at a total cost of $12.65 billion. Of the total amount, Russia will provide $11.385 billion, 90 percent, as state credit for the project while Bangladesh will spend $1.265 billion, 10 percent of the total cost. Bangladesh has to pay back the money in the next 28 years with an 8-year grace period.
Project Director Shawkat Akbar has further said the plant's development works are progressing as per schedule. In April 2013, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the establishment of the first phase of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project. It is the biggest project in terms of investment. The plant will be set up on 105 hectares of land in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna.
