Rooppur:The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) has granted final approval to initiate the first controlled nuclear reaction at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this process, known as 'first criticality,' is a crucial step before the plant begins generating electricity. BAERA Chairman Mahmudul Hasan stated that two additional approvals will be necessary before the electricity can be fed into the national grid.
Project officials explained that the approval had been delayed due to issues with the automatic pressure relief safety valves of Unit-1. A team of Russian experts visited Bangladesh to resolve these issues, ensuring the safety valves passed all necessary tests.
The plant is now anticipated to supply electricity to the national grid on a trial basis by the end of December. The nuclear fuel loading, or 'physical startup,' was officially launched at Unit-1 on April 28, and the first nuclear fuel consignment for Unit-2 arrived on October 3.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the nation's first, is under construction in Pabna with Russian financial and technical support. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is overseeing the project. Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, is building the plant's two 1,200-megawatt units.