Five Russian nuclear experts are examining why two safety valves at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant are not functioning properly, but they have yet to determine the cause of the problem.
The experts started work on Tuesday and are expected to take at least another week to reach a conclusion, said plant officials. Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Managing Director Zahedul Hasan told TIMES, “They are installing the valves and conducting various tests. Nothing can be said before a week.”
Safety valves play a critical role in nuclear reactors by controlling pressure and preventing accidents caused by excessive pressure build-up, said Professor Shafiqul Islam of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Dhaka.
During power generation, a reactor produces enormous heat and operates under high pressure and temperature within controlled limits. Tests have found that one of the three pairs of valves is not functioning properly even after the reactor reached the required pressure and temperature levels.
These valves work like the safety valve of a pressure cooker. If abnormal pressure builds up inside a reactor, they automatically open to release excess pressure safely and protect the facility from major accidents.
Because two valves are not functioning properly, the plant has been unable to move to the final “critical stage”, when the nuclear chain reaction begins. Professor Shafiqul said such safety valves are normally designed to last 60 years, and the reason behind the malfunction cannot be determined without detailed examination.
“Safety valves can be repaired. But they should not be used after repair. If they are found to be defective, new valves will have to be ordered, which may take another 60 to 80 days to manufacture,” he said.
“I believe this should have been tested earlier. Such a major issue should not emerge after fuel loading,” he added. Zahedul Hasan said it was too early to conclude that the valves were defective. “For some reason, two valve sets are not being installed properly. Once they are set, they will continue to work for years,” he said.
The first unit of the Rooppur plant completed fuel loading on 28 April this year. After completing tests, the government planned to start supplying electricity to the national grid within six months. The plant was scheduled to supply 300 megawatts in August and 1,000 megawatts by December. However, the valve problem has created uncertainty over the timeline.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said on Thursday that the government was not yet certain when electricity generation would begin. “Safety of the power plant is the government’s highest priority at this moment,” he told reporters at the Secretariat.
Rooppur is Bangladesh’s largest single infrastructure project. Implemented by the Atomic Energy Commission under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the project is being constructed by Russian contractor Atomstroyexport.
The plant has two units, each with a generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts. Once fully operational, the two units are expected to meet more than 15 per cent of Bangladesh’s current electricity demand. The government aims to bring both units into full operation by the end of 2027.
The project is expected to ease pressure on the power sector, where production remains constrained despite an installed capacity of 33,000 megawatts. Bangladesh’s peak demand is around 17,000 megawatts, but fuel shortages have limited actual generation.
Gas-fired power plants with 12,000 megawatts of capacity are producing less than 5,000 megawatts due to gas shortages. Coal-fired plants with around 8,500 megawatts of capacity are supplying about 4,500 megawatts, while oil-based plants are not running at full capacity because of high generation costs.
Unlike fossil fuel-based plants, Rooppur does not face immediate fuel supply concerns. Under a 2019 agreement, Russia has committed to supplying uranium throughout the plant’s operational life, with the first three years’ fuel provided free of charge.
