Rooppur Unit-1 to Join National Grid in June: A Major Leap for Bangladesh’s Power Sector
The nation’s most expensive infrastructure project, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), has reached a historic milestone. Construction and testing of the first unit are complete, and it is set to begin supplying electricity to the national grid by mid-June, according to officials from the Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Road to Generation Project officials confirmed that all critical tests, including ‘hot runs’ and ‘cold runs,’ have been successfully executed. The current phase involves final inspections, followed by:
April: Fuel loading process to commence.
Post-April: Power startup and synchronization.
June: Initial supply of at least 300 MW to the national grid.
December: Target to reach the full capacity of 1,200 MW from the first unit.
Economic and Energy Security Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, during his visit to the site last Sunday (March 8), described the plant as the “backbone of the country’s future energy security.”
The integration of nuclear power is expected to significantly reduce the country’s reliance on expensive oil-based power plants, thereby lowering overall generation costs and easing the financial pressure on the energy sector.
Cost Escalation and ChallengesWhile the project marks a technological triumph, it has faced significant fiscal and logistical hurdles. The project cost, initially estimated at Tk 1.13 lakh crore, has now risen to Tk 1.38 lakh crore.
Key Statistics:
Total Revised Cost: Tk 1,38,685 crore.
Latest Increase: Tk 25,592 crore.
Primary Delays: COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, and international supply chain disruptions.
Despite the delays and a budget hike of nearly 22%, the government remains optimistic that the high-tech facility will ensure a sustainable and stable power supply for decades to come.
