Significant milestones of Rooppur project
 |
| Significant milestones of Rooppur project |
This development project will run from July 2016 until December 2025. The development on two nuclear power plant units (first and second) is expected to be completed by 2024. The two units will produce 2400 MW of power. The initial cost of building this power plant was more than 1 lakh 13 thousand crore.
Location
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being built at Rooppur village, Pakshi union, Ishwardi upazila, Pabna, about 200 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. The project is situated alongside Hardinge's Bridge and Lalon Shah Bridge, which spans the Padma River.
1961
The first step was to construct a nuclear power plant.
1962-1968
Rooppur, on the banks of the Padma River in Pabna district's Ishwardi police station, was chosen as the location for the country's first nuclear power plant. Multiple surveys are used to verify the project's legitimacy. The nuclear power project required 260 acres of land, with 32 acres set aside for residential zones. Land development, office and rest house building, electrical substation construction, and some residential units were all partially built.
1969-1970
The decision to build the 200-megawatt power plant was canceled by Pakistan's government at the time.
1972-1975
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Prime Minister of independent Bangladesh and the Father of the Nation, took the initiative to establish a 200 MW nuclear power plant.
1977-1986
The implementation of the Rooppur nuclear power project was deemed rational by Messrs. Sofratum's feasibility analysis.
The ECNEC has given its approval to a nuclear power plant development project (125 MW) However, due to a variety of constraints, the project was never completed.
1987-1988
Two businesses from Germany and Switzerland conducted the second feasibility study. The project's financial and technical rationale was re-established as a result of the assessment. The report suggested building a nuclear power station with a capacity of 300-500 MW.
1997-2000
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission's chairman at the time. MA Wazed Mia took the initiative to develop the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, which has a capacity of 600 MW. Some preparation operations, such as human resource development, were undertaken at this time.
The government of Bangladesh has adopted the Nuclear Power Action Plan-2000.
2008
The Awami League committed to implement the Rooppur nuclear power project in its 2008 election manifesto.
2009
Activities for the creation of preliminary works and nuclear infrastructure for the construction of a nuclear power plant have begun under the development project titled 'Performance of Essential Functions for Establishment of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.'
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and the Russian Federation's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the "Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy" on May 13, 2009.
2010
The Governments of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Russian Federation signed a Framework Agreement on the "Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy" on May 21, 2010.
A National Committee chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, a Technical Committee chaired by the Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology, and a Working Group and eight subgroups headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology were formed to ensure the project's smooth implementation.
The Great Parliament passed a resolution for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on November 10, 2010.
Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), visited Bangladesh in December 2010 and pledged the IAEA's full support for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project's implementation.
2011
The Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was undertaken from 9 to 15 November 2011 to assess the overall state of Bangladesh's nuclear infrastructure.
The Governments of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Russian Federation signed an International Cooperation Agreement on the Establishment of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on November 2, 2011.
2013
The State Export Credit Agreement was signed to carry out the Preparatory Stage of Construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant during the Hon'ble Prime Minister's visit to the Russian Federation (January 15, 2013).
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (Phase I) project was carried out under the terms of an International Agreement (IGA) and a State Export Credit Agreement that were signed.
On October 2, 2013, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh officially opened the first phase of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's construction.
2014-2015
On 16 September 2015, the Atomic Power Plants Act, 2015 was enacted, which provided for the establishment and management of the operating power of nuclear power plants.
Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) was formed on 18 August 2015 to set up and operate Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear power plants.
2016
The INIR follow-up mission was held from the 10th to the 14th of May 2016 to assess how far the IAEA's recommendations for establishing the necessary nuclear infrastructure for the building of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant had been implemented.
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority granted the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant a site license on June 21, 2016.
On July 26, 2016, the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the Russian Federation signed a State Credit Agreement for the completion of the main phase of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project.
On June 22, 2016, the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) of the Russian Federation and Bangladesh met in Dhaka to discuss the development of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. During the meeting, crucial decisions were made regarding spent nuclear fuel management, nuclear fuel supply, and Rooppur nuclear power plant project operation and maintenance contracts.
2017
Bangladesh and the Russian Federation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on "Mutual Assistance in Returning Spent Fuel of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to Russia" on March 15, 2017.
In April 2017, the governments of Bangladesh and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Power with the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP), the Atomic Energy Organization of India, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Ekia Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), paid a visit to the construction site of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on July 3, 2017. He expressed satisfaction at the time that all international criteria were followed in the establishment of the institution. On August 30, 2017, Bangladesh and the Russian Federation inked a cooperation agreement to return the spent fuel from the Rooppur nuclear power station to Russia.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority granted the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission the Design and Construction License for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant during a ceremony on November 4, 2017.
On November 30, 2017, the Hon'ble Prime Minister inaugurated the first concrete casting of Unit No. 1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Bangladesh has now begun the construction of a nuclear power plant and has joined the nuclear power club as a result of this. Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to start supplying electricity to the national grid in 2023.
Corruption in the project
Allegations of significant wrongdoing in the accounts of furniture purchased for power plant officials have recently surfaced. The cost of a pillow is estimated to be around 5,000 rupees, and the cost of raising from the bottom to the top is estimated to be around 700 rupees. In the aftermath of the nationwide movement, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced the initiation of an inquiry.
