Rooppur’s First Unit Alone Could Save the State More Than $1bn

❐ Staff Reporter

The first unit of the 1,200-megawatt Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to begin experimentally transmitting electricity to the national grid within the next 8 to 10 weeks. The power plant is currently undergoing final stage technical testing.

Once the successful completion of these tests is confirmed, the electricity connection to the national grid will be increased in phases, and the target has been set to start commercial production of the unit by the beginning of next year.

If the first unit goes into commercial production, Bangladesh’s dependence on foreign imports of fossil fuels will be significantly reduced.

According to energy experts, if this one unit is put into operation, it is possible to save an average of 1,000 crore taka per month and more than 1 billion US dollars worth of foreign exchange annually.

Later, when both units are fully operational, the scope of this saving will become even wider.

However, NPCBL Managing Director Jahedul Hasan noted that the specific calculation of the $1 billion annual savings will largely depend on what is being imported as alternative fuel.

He said that although there are plans to start grid synchronization within the next 6 to 8 weeks, it is not possible to specify a specific date until final approval regarding safety is received.

The first unit has already been successfully loaded with uranium fuel and after completing over a hundred tests in two phases, the complex final phase of tests is currently underway. This progress is being achieved based on the step-by-step approvals from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.

Regarding the effectiveness of nuclear power plants, nuclear expert Professor Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam said that it is possible to get uninterrupted ‘baseload’ electricity from such plants.

As a result, as pressure on oil, coal, and gas eases, the risks related to volatile price increases and supply uncertainty in global markets will be greatly reduced.

The commissioning process of the Baghabari 2300 kV, Bogra 400 kV, and Gopalganj 400 kV networks to connect Rooppur’s electricity to the national transmission line is nearing completion.

However, it is essential to further prepare the transmission infrastructure to ensure that the full capacity of both plants can be supplied to the national grid without interruption.

It is worth noting that this 2,400 MW mega project has two separate units. The commercial launch of the first unit will not only enrich the country’s overall power sector but also bring about major positive changes in the national economy.

‘He who has merit has no name’

The leadership, planning, and international cooperation behind the implementation of this power plant are largely from the time of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Awami League government signed an agreement with Russia for a nuclear power project in 2011. Construction formalities began in 2013. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself inaugurated the main construction work of the plant in 2017.

The project was made possible with 93 percent loan assistance (about $11.38 billion) from the Russian state-owned company Rosatom. This is the largest economic and technical agreement in the history of Bangladesh. However, even though the electricity is now connected to the national grid, these histories are being covered up.

The interim government led by Dr. Yunus and the current BNP government are avoiding Sheikh Hasina’s leadership regarding the project. There is no statement from any department including the Ministry of Science, Ministry of Power and Energy, Power Development Division – when and by whom the project was started.

A senior engineer on the project, who did not wish to be named, said, “The history of a world-class project should not be truncated. It is not the achievement of any party, but a national asset—but history cannot be erased.”

According to analysts, the successful implementation of major projects is as much a matter of technology and economic capability as it is the result of political leadership and diplomatic relations. The Rooppur center is the biggest example of this.

Analysts believe that such bold and far-sighted decisions by Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League government in the power and energy sectors will take Bangladesh far ahead in energy security, efficiency, and industrialization in the future.