Rooppur nuclear plant project cost to rise by Tk26,181cr after exchange rate adjustment

The total cost of the country's first nuclear power plant, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, is rising by Tk26,181.26 crore due to another adjustment of the exchange rate, which is 23.15% higher than the original estimated cost.

Earlier, at the beginning of November, the science and technology ministry had submitted the first revised project proposal to the Planning Commission, proposing a cost increase of 11.84% or Tk13,386.21 crore for the Rooppur project.

Following a meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) on 11 November, it was found that the impact of foreign exchange rate changes had not been accurately reflected in the first revised proposal. As a result, the total project cost in Bangladeshi taka had not been correctly calculated.

The implementing agency then re-adjusted the calculations and, on 27 November, sent a revised proposal to the Planning Commission, raising the project cost to Tk1,39,274.17 crore.

In the original proposal approved in 2016, the project cost was set at Tk113,092.91 crore.

Although the project cost has increased, Russia's $11.38 billion credit remains unchanged in dollar terms. However, calculated in taka, the foreign loan now stands at Tk1,16,799 crore. In the original proposal, Russia's loan was estimated at Tk91,040 crore.

According to the proposed Development Project Proposal (DPP) exchange rate, the utilisation of DPA up to June 2025 is $8.29 billion, calculated at an exchange rate of Tk95.28 per dollar. For the remaining three years, DPA amounting to $3.09 billion has been estimated at Tk122 per dollar (the Bangladesh Bank rate on 16/11/2025).

In the revised proposal initially submitted by the Atomic Energy Commission, the $8.29 billion already spent was calculated at $1 = Tk80. After the PEC meeting, the exchange rate was updated to $1 = Tk95.28.

According to the newly revised proposal, the government-fund portion, initially set at Tk22052.91 crore, has increased to Tk22475.04 crore.

With the increased expenditure, the project duration has also been extended. The original plan, which began in July 2016, was scheduled to conclude in December 2025. The revised proposal, according to Planning Commission sources, recommends extending the project period to June 2028.

Officials at the Planning Commission state that unless the total cost is accurately determined, the cost per unit of electricity produced at Rooppur cannot be properly assessed, nor can the project's cost–benefit analysis be correctly determined. This issue was discussed in detail at the PEC meeting. After extensive discussion, it was decided that the revised project cost would be recalculated using the actual exchange rate for funds already spent and the updated rate for future expenditure.

The Rooppur NPP is being implemented under an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Russian Federation and the Government of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) signed a contract with Russia's Atomstroyexport in December 2015 to construct two NPP units with a combined capacity of 2,400 MW, including equipment supply, training, and fuel delivery.

According to the first revised proposal, the first unit will begin commercial production in 2026.

Earlier, the plan was to start electricity generation from Unit 1 of the Rooppur NPP in December this year. Unit 2 was scheduled to begin production in December 2026. Officials say that since Unit 1 has been delayed, Unit 2 will also be pushed back.