Dhaka, Aug 17 (V7N)- The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to supply 300 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh's national grid on a trial basis in September, with testing of the first unit currently underway.

If the ongoing tests are completed successfully, the first unit could enter full-scale electricity generation within the following few months, according to sources involved with the project.

The development comes as Bangladesh continues to face a shortage of gas for power generation, resulting in increased load shedding across the country. Against this backdrop, expectations are growing that electricity from Rooppur could provide an important alternative source of power.

More than 100 tests completed

Uranium fuel has already been loaded into the reactor of the plant's first unit. More than 100 tests have reportedly been completed successfully in two phases, while the remaining tests are being carried out gradually.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority is reviewing each stage before granting approval for the next phase.

Once operational, the plant is expected to generate electricity continuously. A single fuel loading could allow a unit to operate for approximately 18 months, after which the unit may need to be shut down for up to two months to reload fuel.

Grid stability a major concern

Prime Minister's Science and Technology Adviser Rehan Asif Asad said electricity generated by a nuclear power plant requires a much more stable and precise transmission network than conventional power plants.

He said the national grid connected to Rooppur must therefore have sufficient capacity and stability. The government is working with agencies including the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) to ensure that the transmission system can handle the additional electricity without disruption.

Plans for transmitting power from Rooppur initially included a 230kV facility at Baghabari, 400kV infrastructure at Bogra and another 400kV facility at Gopalganj. Most of these facilities have already been commissioned, although further preparations are required before the plant can transmit electricity at full capacity.

Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku said the national grid is not yet fully capable of coordinating with the rapid generation of electricity from a nuclear facility.

He warned that inadequate coordination could create serious instability in the country's power supply system. Work is therefore underway with local authorities, experts and foreign consultants from countries experienced in nuclear power management to upgrade the grid.

Electricity price yet to be finalized

The final tariff for electricity generated at Rooppur has not yet been determined.

A separate power purchase agreement will be signed with the PDB once trial generation begins. At the initial stage of the project, the expected electricity price had been estimated at around Tk 3-4 per unit. However, project costs and other financial factors have changed significantly since then.

Meanwhile, CPD Research Director Dr Khandaker Golam Moazzem said some payments related to the Rooppur project remain stalled.

He said financial transactions connected to Russia have faced difficulties because of sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries. Bangladesh has consequently faced challenges in using designated financial channels to make certain payments.

According to him, these complications have raised questions about whether all aspects of the Rooppur project are progressing at the expected pace.

END/SMA/AJ