First nuclear fuel for the Unit-1 of Bangladesh's maiden-2,400 megawatt (MW) Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is expected to arrive in Dhaka next week, said sources.
Russia is delivering the fuel through a special air cargo, which is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) and then will be transferred by road to the plant site, some 218 km northwest of the HSIA, RNPP Project Director Dr Shawkat Akbar told the FE.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be present virtually along with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the first nuclear fuel-handover ceremony in early October.
A mock trial on fuel receipt, transfer and preservation was carried out in August, participated by law-enforcing agencies of Bangladesh and representatives of Rosatom, he added.
"In case of any accident during transportation of the fuel from the airport to the plant site by road, Bangladesh will be liable for it," said a senior official at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the media.
The finance ministry of Bangladesh agreed to a Russian proposal for a compensation guarantee worth US$300 million, he said.
The BAEC, the implementing authority of the RNPP, has already obtained necessary licences for handling, storage, and transportation of nuclear fuel to run the plant, said Mr Akbar.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) issued the relevant licences to the BAEC to implement the Rooppur project.
The first fuel will be able to run the Rooppur plant for one year, he added.
Russia will continue supplying nuclear fuel for the plant in phases until three years after handing over the first consignment under the existing deal terms, the official said.
The RNPP comprises two VVER-1200 reactors with a total power-generation capacity of 2,400 MWs.
Atomstroyexport, the international project subsidiary of Rosatom, is the lead contractor for the plant, which is being built under a $13.48 billion supplier's-credit deal between Bangladesh and Russia.
Azizjst@yahoo.com
