Rooppur NPP: Fixing 'core catcher' safety system starts

Installation of the 'core catcher' safety system started at unit-one of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project at Ishwardi in Pabna on Saturday.

Core catcher is a device for catching molten core, which is an active part of the reactor that contains nuclear fuel. It is one of the elements of the passive safety system of a modern nuclear reactor, said officials.

Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman, Senior Vice-President for Overseas Projects, Atomstroyexport (ASE) Alexander Khazin, Project Director of Rooppur NPP Mohammad Shawkat Akbar and other senior officials attended the ceremony at the NPP site.

The core catcher was first installed at Tianwan NPP in China, built under Russian design.

VVER-1200 reactors of generation III+, to be set up at Rooppur NPP, will have a unique combination of active and passive safety systems to ensure maximum stability against external and internal factors.

Rooppur NPP has two VVER-1200 reactors, and its total capacity is 2,400 megawatts (MW). It is being constructed under Russian design, in accordance with the general contract, signed on December 25, 2015.

Atomstroyexport, the engineering division of Rosatom State Corporation, is implementing the project as the general contractor.

First concrete pouring ceremony for unit-one of Rooppur NPP took place on November 30, 2017, marking the beginning of its main construction phase.

The first concrete pouring ceremony for its unit-two was held on July 14, 2018.

Azizjst@yahoo.com