Russian firm floats tender for Rooppur N-power project

Russian Atomenergoproekt, a sister concern of state-run state nuclear company Rosatom that designs nuclear power plants, has floated a tender for engineering survey, environmental monitoring and development of project documents for the Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) site.

The contract value has been estimated at Tk 1.42 billion (US$ 18.2 million) and the selected contractor will have to complete the work by September 15, 2015, said a company insider.

Interested companies will be able to submit bids until January 20, 2015.

The name of the selected bidder will be announced on February 19, 2015. Russia and Bangladesh are currently developing a contract for completing preparation for construction of the Rooppur NPP.

The NPP construction is set to start at the end of 2015.

Rosatom laid the foundation stone at the Rooppur NPP construction site in autumn, 2013.

Russia will design, construct and commission two power units with Water-Eater-Energetic Reactor (WWER) type reactors, each having 1,000 megawatts (MW) capacity, as well as build the infrastructure.  

Russia plans to commission the Rooppur NPP at the beginning of the 2020. In June, Rosatom signed a contract for construction of the Rooppur NPP site worth over $300 million.

The third contract stipulates installation and construction until 'the first concrete is laid."

Russia decided to provide Bangladesh a loan totalling $500 million at a reduced interest rate for the works during the preparatory period.  Besides, in 2015, Russia may decide to give Bangladesh a new loan also at a reduced interest rate for the final construction of the project.

azizjst@yahoo.com