DHAKA, June 25 (V7N) – The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) at Pakshey, Ishwardi, has successfully completed its reactor containment integrity and strength tests, a crucial step before nuclear fuel loading. This milestone confirms the plant's adherence to stringent design requirements and the highest international safety standards.

According to a press release, the tests involved increasing pressure inside the containment using a compressor to the specified design value. A series of subsequent tests were then conducted to verify the structure's tightness and its ability to withstand internal loads that could occur under abnormal operating conditions.

This successful testing is particularly vital as the plant prepares for nuclear fuel loading. The containment building serves as the last protective barrier, designed to prevent the release of radioactive substances into the environment in the highly unlikely event of a hypothetical accident and to localize them within the facility. This robust structure, made of pre-stressed reinforced concrete with an internal steel sealing lining, also offers protection against potential external impacts.

The VVER-1200 reactor, a Russian-designed Generation III+ pressurized water reactor, is known for its enhanced safety features and extended operational lifespan. Each of the two units at RNPP will have a capacity of 1200 MW, totaling 2400 MW.

Following these successful containment tests, the RNPP unit will proceed to a series of "hot media tests." These involve heating the primary coolant circuit to its rated values and generating steam. Various safety modes of the RNPP unit will also be tested, including the operation of devices that provide steam discharge into the atmosphere. The press release noted that these tests might be accompanied by noise, which is planned and safe for the public.

Rosatom, Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation, is the general contractor for the RNPP project, providing both technical and financial assistance. Rosatom emphasizes safety as its paramount priority, ensuring all mandatory standards and requirements are met throughout the project.

The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is targeted to begin commercial operation in 2025, with nuclear fuel expected to be loaded two months after the transmission line is completed. Bangladesh received its first batch of nuclear fuel for Rooppur in October 2023, marking its entry into the "Nuclear Club" as the 33rd member country to possess peaceful nuclear technologies.

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