Rooppur not ready to generate power in Dec: IMED
Project officials couldn’t provide list of unfinished tasks
Highlights:
- Trial run for Unit-1 in 2025 now unlikely
- IMED report says both units face further timeline uncertainty
- Fuel loading for Unit-1 expected in December 2025
- Partial electricity generation may start by March 2026
- Construction nearly complete; key safety tests successfully conducted
- Supplementary safety projects lag; Russian contractor missed schedule submission
The scheduled trial run of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's first unit in December 2025 is now unlikely, while it is also uncertain whether the second unit can begin production as planned in December 2026, according to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED).
Despite the revised schedule, neither unit is expected to begin electricity generation within the planned timeline, according to the IMED's report based on its findings from the project office.
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The report also notes that the project office could not provide any information on when electricity generation for the units might actually begin. They also failed to provide a list of unfinished tasks.
The IMED has advised the project director to prepare a time-bound action plan in coordination with the Russian contractor, Atomstroyexport, covering manpower deployment and procurement schedules.
Project Director Kabir Hossain could not be reached for comment on the matter.
The IMED report, released on 8 October, was based on an on-site inspection conducted on 19-20 September. The inspection team included then-IMED secretary (now religion affairs secretary) Kamal Uddin, Mokhlesur Rahman of the Planning Commission's Industry and Energy Division, and IMED Director General Al Amin.
Earlier, on 30 September, Science and Technology Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that Unit-1 was expected to be trial-run in December. "We sent a letter to Russia to start operations in November. They have confirmed it will be in December."
The adviser added, "The plant's fuel has already arrived. An IAEA team has observed operations and made several recommendations, which we are implementing. They will return to give final approval."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines commissioning for new nuclear plants as a process extending through fuel loading, first criticality, and power ascension, concluding with performance tests and a full-power trial run to demonstrate operational capability.
Regarding this, a senior official from the Ministry of Science and Technology said fuel loading for Unit-1 will begin in December for a trial run.
"Partial electricity from Unit-1 is expected by March next year, initially at around 30% capacity. Output will gradually increase, reaching the full 1,200MW within ten months," he added.
According to the report, civil construction of all structures and common facilities for Unit-1 is nearly complete. The reactor building's civil work has reached 98%, while equipment installation stands at 95%. Strength and leak-tightness tests of the containment area have been successfully completed
Revised timelines
The country's largest project, costing Tk113,092.91 crore, began in 2016. Russia is providing a loan of Tk91,040 crore. Construction contract with Russian firm Atomstroyexport was signed in December 2015, valued at Tk101,200 crore.
Original schedule planned Unit-1 operation in December 2022, Unit-2 in October 2023, and project completion by December 2025. Revised schedule set Unit-1 for December 2025 and Unit-2 for December 2026.
Covid-19 and global disruptions delayed equipment manufacturing and supply by the Russian contractor. Extension to December 2027 is now under process.
Each unit will generate 1,200 MW, totaling 2,400MW. As of last August, financial progress stood at 73.62% and physical progress at 74.24%. Atomstroyexport continues construction.
What else IMED found
According to the report, civil construction of all structures and common facilities for Unit-1 is nearly complete. The reactor building's civil work has reached 98%, while equipment installation stands at 95%. Strength and leak-tightness tests of the containment area have been successfully completed.
The Auxiliary Reactor Building is 98% complete in construction and 90% in equipment installation, while the Turbine Building has achieved 98% and 94% progress in these respective areas.
Similarly, construction of Unit-2 and its common facilities is also nearing completion. Civil work on the Unit-2 reactor building is 93% finished, and equipment installation 82%. The Auxiliary Reactor Building is 85% complete in construction and 75% in installation.
Under the contract terms, electricity generation from Unit-2 is scheduled to begin one year after Unit-1.
All four cooling towers for both units are now fully completed. Civil construction of 133 major structures – including the Fresh Fuel Storage Building, Health Physics Building, Fire Station – is nearly finished.
Commissioning work for several key facilities, such as the Fresh Fuel Storage, Fire Station, Training Centre, and Shielded Emergency Management Centre, is in the final stage.
The fresh nuclear fuel supplied by Russia has been stored in the designated building.
The report noted that commissioning activities for Unit-1 are being conducted in stages as outlined in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines, up to the fuel loading or physical start-up phase.
Containment testing, one of the most critical safety procedures in nuclear power generation, has already been completed. This test ensures the containment structure's integrity by detecting any leaks or weaknesses that could cause radiation exposure.
Under sub-stages A3.1 and A3.2, complex procedures such as Cold and Hot Running Tests are being carried out to verify the reliability and safety of the turbine systems before fuel loading. These tests are standard safety measures in nuclear plants.
Currently, both hot and cold tests for Unit-1 are ongoing under stage A3, with several sub-stage activities already completed. The next stage (A4) will include inspection of the reactor's core equipment before fuel loading and physical start-up.
According to IMED, several supplementary projects linked to nuclear safety oversight are lagging.
These include the installation of offsite water supply facilities, enhancement of nuclear regulatory infrastructure, construction of the plant's physical protection system, and establishment of an external telecommunications network.
IMED stressed the need for urgent coordination and acceleration of these projects to meet the main project's schedule. The report also highlighted that under the contract, Atomstroyexport must submit an annual Level-2 Schedule outlining implementation activities.
However, despite repeated requests, the contractor has not provided this schedule since December 2022. IMED said obtaining this plan is vital to ensure smooth completion and timely power generation from this nationally important project.
