Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation, met with Tarique Rahman, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Both sides discussed the progress of the project to build the country's first nuclear power plant, Rooppur. During the meeting, both sides welcomed the start of the commissioning phase of the Rooppur NPP. Unit 1 of the plant is expected to be connected to the grid by the end of 2026. Both sides emphasised the strategic importance of the project for Bangladesh's energy system and reaffirmed their commitment to its successful and timely implementation.
“Nuclear cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh is a shining example of a strategic partnership based on trust, mutual respect, and a commitment to technological advancement. We highly value the level of collaboration that has developed during the implementation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. I am confident that the successful completion of this project will provide a solid foundation for further expansion of cooperation between the two countries and open up new opportunities for joint high-tech projects in energy, related industries, science, and education,” said Alexey Likhachev.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), with two VVER-1200 reactors and a total capacity of 2,400 MW, is being built using a Russian design 160 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in accordance with the general contract dated December 25, 2015. Once commissioned, the NPP will cover over 10 % of Bangladesh's electricity needs. A Russian design with VVER-1200 reactors has been selected for Bangladesh's first NPP. Rosatom's flagship VVER-1200 reactors have already proven their efficiency and reliability in the operation of reference power units. This is an evolutionary Generation III+ design that fully complies with international safety requirements. Six power units based on these reactors are currently in operation – four in Russia and two in the Republic of Belarus. Active construction of NPPs using Russian technology is underway in Egypt, Hungary, Turkey, and China.
