The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has finally got the ‘Site License’, a clearance that accredits the installation of this plant as safe. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) has issued the site license to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). After conducting a series of 63 types of inspections and surveys on the issues namely soil, air and earthquake, the BAERA issued the yes card for BAEC. The license handover ceremony took place today at the city’s hotel Sonargaon.
The chairman of BAERA Dr. Naiyyum Choudhury handed over the license to the chairman of BAEC Engineer M Ali Zulquarnain. Among others, the Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman, the Financial Advisor of the Prime Minister Dr. Moshiur Rahman, the Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry Md. Sirazul Hoque Khan, the Chairman of National Board of Revenue Muzibor Rahman, the Deputy CEO of Rosatom Nikolai Spasky and the Deputy Chairman of Rostekngor Alexey Ferapontov were also present at the handover ceremony.
Yafes Osman said that, RNPP had to be declared safe and licensed to start its installation. This site license finally paved the way to initiate the installation process.
However, BAEC is yet to get the Construction License to start the core installation part which they’re expecting to get within early next year.
Dr. Moshiur Rahman expressed his wishes mentioning that Bangladesh will reach to a new height by installing this Nuclear Power Plant of Rooppur. Bangladesh, at last, is making this long cherished dream come true by taking Russian assistance, he added. Sirazul Hoque said that this kind of licensing plays the most vital role in establishing a Nuclear Power Plant. He added that RNPP has gone one more step ahead to start the key installation part. Muzibor Rahman referred this project as one of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh. On the other hand, Nikolai Spasky quoted that it’s a milestone for Bangladesh and this is the ideal time to initiate the installation process of RNPP.
Rosatom, the state-run Nuclear Energy Corporation of Russia is going to build this Power Plant for an estimated cost of 12.65 billion USD or 1 lac 1 thousand crore Tk. The first unit of this plant is likely to be in operation by the year of 2023 and the second one is to be operational by the October of 2024. Each of the units will have a capacity of generating 1,200 MW of electricity with a lifespan of 50 years.