The first unit of the Rooppur nuclear power plant, located 160 kilometers from Dhaka, Bangladesh, completed a critical blowdown of its fresh steam pipelines in the turbine compartment. The process utilized steam at 2.0 MPa pressure and 200 degrees Celsius, marking a significant milestone in the plant’s commissioning phase. Rosatom, the project’s developer, noted that this step confirms the steam lines’ readiness to supply the turbine, a key component of the unit’s operation.

The blowdown, which released steam into the atmosphere, is part of the cold and hot functional tests that began in July 2025. These tests clean the pipelines and assess equipment reliability under conditions mimicking actual operations. Rosatom indicated that further blowdowns with increased steam volumes will finalize pipeline cleaning and refine equipment performance parameters. Hydraulic tests of the primary circuit and leak tests on the containment building were successfully completed in March and June 2025, respectively.

Atomstroyexport, a Rosatom subsidiary, explained that these tests involve heating the reactor unit to evaluate the performance of critical components like pumps, pipelines, and heat exchangers under load. This ensures the plant’s systems are prepared for long-term, reliable operation. Alexey Deriy, Vice President of Atomstroyexport for Projects in Bangladesh, stated: “With the completion of this stage of commissioning works, the Rooppur NPP takes another step towards the pivotal event, such as launching of power unit No 1 and its subsequent connection to the power grid, which will supply the country's residents with additional energy, vital for both the economy and industry. In the future, the Rooppur NPP built according to the latest Russian VVER-1200 design, is expected to supply Bangladesh with up to 10% of clean energy for decades to come.”

The Rooppur project, initiated through a $12.65 billion contract signed in December 2015 with the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, involves constructing two VVER-1200 reactors. Site preparations began in June 2016, with construction starting on Unit 1 in November 2017 and Unit 2 in July 2018. Each unit is designed for a 60-year operational life, with a potential 20-year extension. The delivery of nuclear fuel in October 2023 designated the site as a nuclear facility.

Rosatom aims to connect Rooppur Unit 1 to the national grid in 2025, enhancing Bangladesh’s energy supply and supporting economic and industrial growth with clean, sustainable power.

by world nuclear news