Rooppur Nuclear Plant Begins Trial Run, 300MW to Join National Grid Upon Successful Completion
Trial electricity generation has begun at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna. The process started shortly after 4:30pm on Friday. Earlier, on Thursday, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) approved the first unit of the plant to begin the electricity generation process.
At this stage, a self-sustaining chain reaction, known as nuclear fission, will be initiated for the first time. This means the reactor will gradually begin producing energy or electricity in a stable and safe manner. All previous tests have been successfully completed.
According to the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Stage B1 of the first unit of the Russian-assisted project has been completed successfully. The complications related to the final test of the automatic pressure relief valves have also been resolved.
The next phase is Stage B2, during which the nuclear reactor is prepared for initial operation. This will be followed by criticality, a stage in which a self-sustaining chain reaction is established. Through this process, the reactor will gradually begin producing energy or electricity in a stable and safe manner. Once electricity generation successfully reaches 300 megawatts in stages, the plant will begin supplying power commercially to the national grid.
Meanwhile, Russia has started supplying nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the VVER-1200 reactor at the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday morning.
