Rooppur plant unit-1 begins power start-up process

The first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant began its power start-up process on Friday morning, a day after receiving Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority approval, Chairman Mahmudul Hasan confirmed.

Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said power generation had not begun as criticality and start-up activities were underway, adding that trial grid supply of around 300MW could start in four to five weeks.

Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Md Zahedul Hassan said the reactor was at zero power and below 1 per cent thermal capacity, needing 37 per cent steam production to rotate the turbine and generator.

Completing B-2 sub-stage tests, the unit entered Stage C towards grid synchronisation, gradually raising reactor power to test the integrated operation of reactor, primary, secondary, turbine-generator, electrical, instrumentation, control and safety systems.

Being built in Pabna's Rooppur with Russian technical and financial assistance, Bangladesh's first nuclear plant features two Russian-designed 1,200MW units and will make Bangladesh the world's 33rd nuclear power-producing country upon grid supply.

Source: New Age