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All technical evaluations and preparatory protocols, including the B-2 stage physics tests, have been completed for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The full evaluation report has been submitted to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA), paving the way for the unit to enter Stage-C (power startup) once regulatory clearance is granted.
According to project insiders, preparations are in place to initiate the pilot power startup around October 25, pending formal approval from BAERA.
In tandem with these milestones, a high-level Russian delegation evaluating the project met with Bangladesh's Minister of Science and Technology, Fakeer Mahbub Anam, on Thursday night. During the meeting, the delegation briefed the minister on key technical progress, including the reactor's critical stage, as confirmed in a statement issued by the Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Friday.
Led by Andrey Petrov, First Deputy Director General of Rosatom and President of its engineering division ASE, the delegation inspected Rooppur's facilities from October 20 to 23. The subsequent high-level meeting in Dhaka was attended by Science and Technology Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain, alongside top executives from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), to review construction milestones and map out upcoming joint priorities.
Dr. Md. Zahedul Hassan, Managing Director of NPCBL, confirmed that all B-2 phase evaluations and physics tests concluded with complete success, with the formal documentation submitted to BAERA on Wednesday. He noted that the Russian delegation had apprised top government officials of the reactor reaching criticality. Once regulatory approval is secured, the unit will advance directly to Stage-C for the power startup sequence.
He added that initial generation will begin on a limited scale before capacity is incrementally ramped up following satisfactory phase-by-phase outcomes.
Project officials project that once generation reaches 30 to 35 percent of capacity, initial transmission into the national grid can commence. Under this schedule, the plant is targeted to feed roughly 300 MW into the national grid by late 2026, contingent upon the successful completion of intermediate testing benchmarks and final regulatory sign-offs.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f1cf6af-1c35-6770-875e-79e82187634f