Economy
Rooppur NPP won’t get fuel supply until all necessary inspections completed
Atomstroyexport, the Russian contractor for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, has announced that it will not supply fuel to the plant until all necessary inspections and scheduled procedures are completed, emphasizing the importance of meeting international safety standards. Alexey Deriy, Vice President of Atomstroyexport and Director of the Rooppur NPP Construction Project, highlighted that the delivery of nuclear fuel is a complex process involving multiple levels of scrutiny.
A press release from Rosatom, the Russian contractor, stated that an acceptance inspection will soon take place in Novosibirsk, Russia. The inspection will ensure that all required inspections and procedures are carried out before fuel is shipped and delivered to the Rooppur NPP. This commitment to meticulous inspections underscores the priority given to safety and adherence to international standards.
Recently, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) granted Class B, D, and E licenses to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) for handling, storage, and transportation of nuclear fuel for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The Class B license permits the purchase, ownership, handling, and storage of nuclear materials, the Class D license allows a Russian transport company to transport nuclear materials, and the Class E license provides authority for the importation of nuclear materials.
A formal ceremony was held in Pabna to mark the handing over of the licenses, with key attendees including Yeafesh Osman, Minister for Science and Technology; Ziaul Hasan, Sr. Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology; Engr. Md. Muzammel Haque, Chairman of BAERA; Alexey Ferapontov, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological, and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) from Russia; Andrei Petrov, First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Power of the Rosatom State Corporation; and President of ASE.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, which features two VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of 2400 MW, is being constructed based on Russian design. The VVER 1200 reactors are classified as evolutionary generation III+ and fully comply with international safety requirements. The Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation serves as the General Contractor for the project.
Initially undertaken in 2010, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, comprising two units, had set a target to complete the construction of the first unit in 2022 and the second unit in 2023. However, the target was later revised, with the first unit now expected to be completed by June 2024 and the second unit by June 2025, reflecting the evolving nature of the project’s timeline.
The delay in fuel supply to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project highlights the significance placed on thorough inspections and adherence to international safety standards. The Russian contractor’s commitment to ensuring the plant’s safety and operational readiness underscores the dedication to delivering a secure and reliable source of nuclear power for Bangladesh’s energy needs.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday paid tribute to the Armed Forces Division by placing a floral wreath at its headquarters.
Prof Yunus, who visited the division as part of his official duties, laid the wreath to honor the sacrifices and dedication of the members of the Armed Forces.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, he signed the visitor’s book.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, along with four other election commissioners, announced their resignation during a press conference today at the Election Commission (EC) building. The resignation follows growing speculation and pressure.
CEC Awal stated, “In this changed situation, I and other commissioners have decided to step down. We’re handing over our resignation letters to the EC Secretary to send it to the President.” After submitting the letters, the CEC and some commissioners quickly left the premises, with no clear explanation for the absence of two election commissioners.
The resignations come amid increasing unrest tied to the registration of political parties such as Nagarik Oikya and Gono Odhikar Parishad. Sources revealed the CEC felt unsafe due to aggressive behavior from activists, prompting the decision to step down.
Protesters outside the EC building hurled shoes at vehicles carrying Election Commissioners Rashida Sultana, Md Alamgir, and Anisur Rahman as they left. Meanwhile, preparations for their exit had already been underway, with the commissioners reportedly relocating personal belongings from their offices.
The commission, appointed in February 2022 for a five-year term, had previously expressed confusion over demands for their resignation, maintaining they had conducted fair elections. However, internal discussions led to the collective decision to resign earlier than expected.
The government will now purchase LNG from the international spot market through open tender instead of negotiation.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a meeting on Wednesday in principle approved a proposal in this regard.
Adviser of the interim government for Finance Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, who presided over the meeting, said that the government will procure LNG through open tender.
The Energy and Mineral Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources placed the proposal where it sought approval to import LNG from 23 listed companies in the international spot market.
The adviser said that though such 23 companies were enlisted by the previous Awami League government and signed Master Sales and Purchase Agreement, they will remain unchanged.
He said that instead of applying the Speedy Increase of Energy and Power Supply (Special) Act 2010, the interim government will follow the Public Procurement Rules 2008 to ensure the competitive bidding process.
“We don’t want to change them as we wanted to import LNG quickly, ensuring proper competition among the suppliers,” he told reporters.
Committee also approved another proposal in principle to sign a contract to import urea fertiliser for the 2024-25 fiscal year from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE, on a G-to-G basis.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement (CCGP) in a meeting, presided over by the Adviser for Finance, approved 3 proposals for import of lentil and fertiliser.
As per the proposal, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh will procure 10,000 metric tons (MT) of lentil from local firm Sahara Enterprise at a cost of Tk 98.20 crore with each kg priced at Tk 98.20.
The Commerce Ministry which moved the proposal on behalf of the TCB in the meeting mentioned in the proposal that the supplier firm was selected through open tender.
The CCGP approved two separate proposals of the Industries Ministry under which Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation will import 30,000 MT of bulk granular urea fertiliser from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE, under state to state contract at a cost of Tk 121.48 crore.
Each metric ton of fertiliser will cost $343.17.
Another 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea fertiliser will be procured from the local Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) at a cost of Tk 116.99 crore with each metric ton costing $330.50.
