Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom has said it has completed necessary tasks of Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and is getting ready to start its operation from next year.
Rosatom hailed 2024 as a successful year in Bangladesh, marking the completion of construction and installation for one of Rooppur NPP's power units, set to start next year, reports UNB.
The second power unit of the country's maiden nuclear power plant has also achieved significant progress in construction and installation.
"We have entered the final straight in terms of preparation of Rooppur NPP Unit 1 for the physical start-up. This is an important stage, under which we must carry out a large scope of works and tests to prove the operability of the process systems in all the operating modes," pointed out Andrey Petrov, First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, and President of ASE.
In September, dummy fuel assemblies were loaded into the reactor pressure vessel of unit-1, paving the way for the loading of real nuclear fuel assemblies. At the same month, diesel generators underwent cold runs. These diesel generators act as standby suppliers of power for equipment when the reactor needs to be stopped for any reason.
In October, the reactor assembly process was completed and got prepared for the key test to ensure the efficient operation of the unit. In November the first ignition of the start-up standby boiler room took place to supply technological steam.
On December 18, the works began to bring the reactor plant to the rated parameters and to conduct tests without nuclear fuel. Large-scale tests are being conducted to confirm the process system in all operating modes.
For power unit-2, concreting of the outer containment was completed ahead of schedule. A passive heat removal system deflector was installed. Other construction and installation works are underway to prepare the unit for commissioning and start-up.
Both the units have received automated radiation monitoring systems (ARMS), developed especially for the Roopur project to meet its specific requirements.
During the year, Rosatom continued its support in providing special education to Bangladeshi students and training Bangladeshi specialists of Rooppur NPP at Rosatom Technical Academy in Russia.
