Rooppur NPP Likely To Be Highly Derated

Rooppur nuclear power plant is a prestigious project of Bangladesh, which has become a member of the elite club of nuclear electricity producers.

- Engr. K.M. Mahbubur Rahman

The plant is situated at Ishwardi in the district of Pabna, on the river Padma, which flows lean in the dry season and is full and turbulent in the Monsoon. The plant consists of two units, each with a 1,200 MW Russian reactor model VVER-1200, for a total capacity of 2,400 MW. Both units are under construction, and one of them has started pre-commissioning tests. It is a turnkey project under Russian credit, and ROSATOM, a state-owned company of Russia, is taking care of the design, supply, installation, and commissioning.

The VVER-1200 model has been designed for cold countries like Russia, where cooling water below 20°C is naturally available at sea, lakes, and rivers. The nominal capacity of 1,200 MW is based on cold weather conditions. Bangladesh is a hot country, and so the capacity will be reduced.

Effect of hot weather in Bangladesh