Dhaka, August 18, 2018- Installation of “core catcher”, the device for catching molten core (active part of the reactor that contains nuclear fuel) material has commenced at unit no. 1 of Roopur Nuclear Power Plant. It is an important element in the passive safety system of a most modern nuclear reactor.

Architect Yeafesh Osman, Minister for Science and Technology, Alexander Khazin, Senior Vice-President for Overseas Projects, Atomstroyexport (ASE), Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Akbar, Project Director of Rooppur NPP and other senior officials attended the ceremony, held at the Rooppur NPP site this morning.

“This is a unique safety system of the NPP and for the first time such a large-size equipment of aprox. 200 tons is being installed in the reactor building. According to the schedule, the installation will be completed within 6 months”, said Alexander Khazin. “All works for construction of power unit No1 are progressing according to the schedule. Currently about 5 thousand tons of cement are being used daily at the construction site, about 4 thousand people are involved in construction activities”

The core catcher, one of the elements of the passive safety system was first installed at Tianwan NPP in China ,which was built under the Russian design.

VVER-1200 reactors of generation III+ to be set up at Rooppur NPP will have a unique combination of active and passive safety systems that ensure maximum stability against external and internal factors.

Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors and the total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed under the Russian design, in accordance with General Contract, signed on 25 December 2015. Atomstroyexport, the Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation is implementing the project as the General Contractor.

First Concrete Pouring Ceremony for power unit No 1 took place on 30 November, 2017, marking the beginning of main construction phase. The First Concrete Pouring Ceremony of the Unit 2 was held on July 14 of the current year.

Each stage of Roopur NPP construction is stringently being monitored by IAEA and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).


For reference:
Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors and the total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed under the Russian design, 160 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in accordance with General Contract dated 25 December 2015. The General Contractor is Atomstroyexport (the engineering division of Rosatom). The Russian design with VVER-1200 reactors that was selected for the first NPP in Bangladesh, was successfully implemented at Unit No 1 of Novovoronezh NPP-2. This is an evolutionary GenIII+ design which fully complies with all international safety requirements. In 2017, the well-known international magazine POWER (USA) rated the new Russian power unit among the three best nuclear power units in the word. In 2015-2016 preparatory works were performed at the construction site, detail design documentation and materials for receiving the license for the power unit location and construction, were developed. In 2017, Rooppur NPP project implementation continued according to the schedule. On 4 November 2017, the regulatory authority of Bangladesh (BAERA) issued the license for the NPP design and construction. On 20 November the ceremony of first concrete pouring for power unit No 1 took place. On 14 July 2018 the active phase of construction of power unit No 2 commenced marked by the ceremony of first concrete pouring into the power unit foundation. Each stage of Roopur NPP construction will be stringently monitored by IAEA and the national regulatory authority.

For reference:
ASE (the Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation) was established by uniting the leading companies of the industry: JSC ASE EC, Atomstroyexport JSC, Atomenergoproekt JSC and ATOMPROEKT JSC. ASE is one of the global leaders in nuclear power engineering holding 31% of the global NPP construction market. Its representative offices, branches and front offices are operating in 15 countries. Almost 80% of the order portfolio is composed of overseas projects. It implements high power NPP design and construction projects, RAW and SNF management facilities, thermal power facilities, and renders a full range of services related to EPC, EPC(M) and PMC services for any complex engineering facilities. ASE develops and actively implements the innovative Multi-D project management system in the area of complex engineering facilities construction that allows such parameters as budget, deadlines and quality to be more efficiently managed. Rosatom State Corporation’s Engineering Division is chaired by Mr Valery Igorevich Limarenko.