Rooppur First Unit Expected to Start in November: Energy Minister
Photo captured from a video footage. Agamir Somoy.
The first unit of the country's highly anticipated first nuclear power plant is expected to go into operation this coming November. The Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, shared this information with reporters on Friday morning after visiting the main office of Power Grid Bangladesh in the capital's Aftabnagar.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, consists of two units, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW. Following the completion of nuclear fuel loading for the first unit, several critical testing and verification processes are currently underway. Construction work on the second unit is also progressing in full swing.
The Power Minister said, "It will be possible to commission the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant by next November. There is not much time left to achieve this target, so work is being pushed forward collectively with everyone involved."
Addressing Capacity Charges and Past Grievances
The Minister said the previous administration left behind a massive financial burden under the guise of "capacity charges." However, he emphasized that the new government cannot change everything instantaneously, as these matters involve legal complexities.
The Ministry of Law is currently reviewing these issues and that overnight decisions are not possible.
Existing contracts are being reviewed, and necessary measures will be taken accordingly.
Supply Deficiencies and Lack of Coordination
Iqbal Hasan Mahmud further explained that the distribution system had not been upgraded in alignment with generation and transmission capabilities to ensure a stable power supply. As a result, despite adequate generation and transmission capacity, shortages persist in the supply system.
"The fascist government carried out massive expansion in the power sector. It took initiatives to bring electricity to every household but failed to give due importance to effective coordination," he said.
He added that due to the unplanned installation of distribution lines, many areas suffer from prolonged power outages despite normal generation and transmission. The root cause lies in distribution line issues. A meeting was held with Power Grid Bangladesh PLC (PGCB) to discuss how these issues can be resolved.
