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Another Tk 50.88b sought for Rooppur project

JAHIDUL ISLAM | May 21, 2026 12:00:00


The Ministry of Science and Technology has sought an additional Tk 50.88 billion for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project under the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP), sending a formal request to the Programming Division of the Planning Commission.

The request, made at the very end of the fiscal year, has been justified by a Tk 255.94 billion increase in project cost, expected progress in construction activities, and the depreciation of the local currency against foreign exchange, officials at the Planning Commission say.

Under the revised proposal, the project's RADP allocation would rise from Tk 100.12 billion to Tk 151.00 billion, marking a 50.82 per cent increase.

The entire additional requirement is linked to foreign project assistance, primarily from Russian loans.

As a result, the project's loan component is expected to increase from Tk 96 billion to Tk 146.88 billion, a 53 per cent rise over the existing RADP allocation.

The revision comes as implementation accelerates across major components of the nuclear power facility, with contractors reporting higher milestone completion rates than earlier projected.

Under the revised proposal, the project's RADP allocation would rise from Tk 100.12 billion to Tk 151.00 billion, marking a 50.82 per cent increase.

Of the total additional requirement, the entire Tk 50.88 billion is linked to foreign project assistance financed through Russian loan arrangements under an intergovernmental agreement.

The government of Bangladesh  allocation remains unchanged at Tk 4.12 billion.

The proposal is placed under the Special Development Assistance block in the RADP, with the Economic Relations Division reportedly indicating a no-objection to the reallocation mechanism.

Officials say the adjustment will not increase the overall foreign aid envelope for FY26, but will instead redistribute funds within project-level financing.

The loan component is expected to rise from Tk 96.00 billion to Tk 146.88 billion, a 53 per cent increase.

Approved in 2016, RNPP is expected to generate two megawatts of electricity from two separate units.

The fuel loading of the first unit was completed this month.

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