Rooppur nuclear power plant promises long term sustainable power at cheaper cost

Bangladesh has been prioritising diversification of sources for electricity generation as well as for low carbon development. Nuclear power development initiative is part of that process. On September 29, 2023 when the first batch of uranium fuel designated for the first reactor for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) at Ishwardi, Pabna reached the plant site, the country could happily celebrate for its elevated status as a proud member of the elite club of countries who have the capacity for nuclear power generation. Bangladesh now is the 33rd member of the prestigious global forum of nuclear power for peaceful use of its capacity. Mr. Rafael Grossi, the Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has rightly mentioned that 'Bangladesh stands as a success story for newcomer countries in nuclear power development, advancing its programme under IAEA's guidance'.

The enriched uranium to be used as fuel for the nuclear power plant was ceremonially handed over by the RosAtom DG Mr.  Likhachev to Mr. Yasef Osman, Minister for the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Bangladesh on October 5, 2023 at Rooppur plant site. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took part in the auspicious ceremony virtually from Dhaka and Moscow respectively. In the meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina informed that the 1200 MW capacity first Unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant would commence power generation from 2024 and the 1200 MW second Unit would come into power generation from 2026. The signed agreements between Bangladesh and Russian Federation helped develop the Rooppur nuclear power plant's design, construction and nuclear fuel supply (Russian Federation has been providing 90 per cent cost of financing for construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power plant as loan to Bangladesh). In her speech in the handover ceremony for RNPP, Sheikh Hasina further informed that the agreement with Russian Federation would enable the RNPP receive necessary fuel supply and returning the spent fuel to Russian Federation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project would be a symbol of bilateral relations between Russian Federation and Bangladesh. This leading project would be mutually beneficial and help bilateral cooperation for deepening relationship.

In the meantime, the second and third batches of uranium fuel for Rooppur NPP reached at the project site on and October 6 and 13, 2023 respectively. Dr. Shawkat Akbar, Project Director of RNPP informed that the plant would receive a total of 7 consignments of uranium fuel for the First Unit of the plant within October 2023. The Agreement signed between Bangladesh and Russian Federation would enable to receive fuel for the both reactors of RNPP. According to the agreed programme, fuel loading would take place once a year for the first three years. Later, an 18 month cycle of fuel loading for each of the RNPP reactors would be adopted. The loading of fuel and subsequent test runs would require several weeks prior to commencement of commercial operations and for gaining designed capacity of power supply from each of the reactors build at RNPP.

Apart from the huge RNPP construction facilities, robust power transmission systems have been under construction for evacuating power from RNPP. Power generation and transmission from RNPP can commence only after satisfying rigorous inspection and compliance of Bangladeshi regulatory authority BAERA, as well as International regulations. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and RNPP have been working on an agreed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) now for settling the power price for generated power units to be transmitted to Bangladesh national grid. RNPP authority is hopeful that the power tariff for RNPP would be cheaper than the power generated in other power plants of the country using liquid fuel, coal and natural gas as primary fuel. RNPP is designed to generate 2400 MW power and supply uninterrupted electric energy as base-load power for Bangladesh national grid for at least 80 years. The RNPP is the single largest project under implementation in the history of Bangladesh. Russian Federation has provided 90 per cent loan (of US$12.65 billion project cost) and technical support for implementing the project with VVER-1200 reactors as an evolutionary Generation III+ design with enhanced safety and fully compliant with all the international regulatory requirements. The Russian loan allocated for RNPP is repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.

Nuclear energy has been used actively by countries including USA, Canada, China, France, Russian Federation, Ukraine, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Check Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Romania, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Slovenia, Netherlands, Iran and Armenia. Several more countries have been in the process of joining the club of nuclear power generating countries as the nuclear power secures nations development, energy security and stability. If a country can arrange necessary funds required for nuclear power generation facilities and secures its management, nuclear power is one of the best solution now a days as green source of power for a long  period at a cheaper price. The NPP creates high value employment opportunity and stimulates growth of industries and national economy with several other spin off benefits. With the pressing climate change impacts developing nations prefer to opt for nuclear power as it helps attain reduction of carbon and Green House Gas emission and to attain Net Zero targets. In our region India (already produces 3.2 per cent of electricity from nuclear power plants) plans to build 20 more Nuclear power plants within 2031 (on average India required 14.2 years time to complete the construction and commissioning of its NPP and to connect with electric grid compared to China's 5.7 years time).Share of electric energy generated from nuclear sources in France was 69 per cent in 2021 compared to USA-19.6 per cent, Russia-20 per cent, UK-14.8 per cent, China-4.5 per cent and India-3.2 per cent.

Depending on domestic capacities (financial, technical and operational) cost of nuclear power plant development may vary. However, RNPP being the first ever implemented project of its size in Bangladesh (with its limited financial, technological capacities), the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission in cooperation of RosAtom, Russian Federation have been building the 2400 MW nuclear power plant. There are people who consider the cost of RNPP implementation comparatively high. However, the project authority has been justifying the cost for its safety and security and for its longer operational life (RNPP has been designed for almost 4 times longer life compared to its competitor fossil fuel based power plants. Almost 40 per cent of the development cost is spent for the safety of nuclear power plant). Also, the RNPP so far did not escalate its projected cost (as per contracts) when large footprint projects are randomly revising their costs in the process of implementation in Bangladesh. Being the large footprint project, RNPP has to import construction materials (steel, cement, construction and project equipment etc.) for its specific requirements and so far, the project cost remains unchanged despite several international reality changes. The RNPP project site selected by Bangladesh is a 'char land' on the bank of river Padma near Pakshi, Iswardi. It required huge land development and very expensive and unique soil stabilisation works to withstand earthquake jolts and river erosion. Initial cost of developing nuclear power technology is unique and costly in the international arena. In addition, RNPP requires to import ready fuel for the power plant and will have to send the spent fuel back to Russia. In the process of project development, a large contingent of external expert assistances for developing design and implementation works was required. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, the RNPP implementing agency, has been developing several hundred specialists for the project implementation and for its future operational needs. Apart from physical infrastructure building, regulatory system development and manpower training added considerable cost for RNPP as the pioneer project in the nuclear field in Bangladesh.  

Mushfiqur Rahman is a mining engineer, He writes on energy and environment issues.
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