The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is awaiting approval to enter the B-2 stage, or criticality, marking a major step toward starting electricity generation.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) will issue the required approval.
At this stage, a self-sustaining chain reaction, or nuclear fission, will be initiated for the first time. This will allow the reactor to gradually begin producing energy and electricity in a stable and safe manner. All tests and examinations of the unit have already been completed successfully.
With power outages continuing to cause disruption to daily life, attention is increasingly focused on the under-construction nuclear power plant, with the key question being when electricity from the facility will become available.
According to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines, Stage B-1 of the first unit, which is being built with Russian assistance, has been completed largely successfully. The final complication involving tests of the automatic pressure-relief valves has also been resolved.
The next stage is B-2, during which the nuclear reactor is fully prepared for initial operation. This is followed by the criticality stage, when a self-sustaining chain reaction is established through nuclear fission. Electricity generation then begins gradually in a stable and safe manner.
Once the unit progresses successfully through the subsequent stages and reaches its generation capacity of 300 megawatts, it will begin supplying electricity commercially to the national transmission grid.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project Director Dr Md Kabir Hossain said all necessary documents had been submitted to BAERA.
We have submitted all the documents to BAERA. Once we receive the necessary approval from them, we will proceed to the next stage. All previous work has now been completed. InshaAllah, once we receive BAERAs permission, we will enter the next stage, B-2, he said.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority has expressed a positive view after reviewing Rooppurs documents.
In addition, construction of all eight transmission lines required to supply electricity from Rooppur to different parts of the country has already been completed.
