The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (Baera) is set to issue a site licence today to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (Baec) to run the Rooppur nuclear power plant.

The Baera will hand over the licence to the Baec at a ceremony to be held at Hotel Sonargaon today, officials say.

“Licensing is very important for the nuclear plant. The site licence is the first step for building a nuclear plant,” said Dr Shawkat Akbar, project director of RNPP, adding, “This will be followed by a construction licence.”

The Baec submitted site documents related to engineering survey and environmental assessment survey to the Baera in September last year to obtain the licence.

Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman told The Daily Star that the licence was being issued following clearance by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been monitoring the project.

“The IAEA is involved in all aspects of implementation of this nuclear power project. Besides, the Russian atomic energy regulatory authority is also involved,” Osman added.

The IAEA has a milestone document that needs development of 19 items. To launch the Rooppur project, Bangladesh must comply with these 19 items following an assessment by the IAEA.

Bangladesh and Russia have meanwhile been expected to sign the final agreement for $12.65 billion Russian loan for this project in July this year. The two countries had earlier 'initialled' the loan agreement in December last year.

Minister Yeafesh Osman said, “Negotiations with Russia for the loan have been complete. There are no issues pending. It is expected that we will sign the deal in July this year.”

The first phase of work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila is going on in full swing. Around 80 percent of preparatory work, including development of the project site, is already complete and is likely to end by December this year. The photos were taken recently. Photo: Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu

This would be the biggest single investment in the country. Under this loan, Bangladesh will install two units of 1,200 megawatt power plant each.

Although the price tag of $12.65 billion seems very high, the cost of power would be cheaper than most recent power plants in the country. It is because the Rooppur plant would generate 2,400 MW power with a plant life that is almost three times of a conventional plant.

The Rooppur project was inaugurated on October 2, 2013. Under a half a billion dollar Russian loan, Russian company Rosatom and its affiliated companies have done preparatory works and a series of feasibility studies.

“We have already completed 80 percent preparatory work as per the first phase agreement by completing engineering surveys and environmental assessments. Currently, we are undergoing some site development work, which is likely to end by December this year,” the project director said.

Rooppur's two reactors of VVER-1200 will be based on a modified version of the NPP-2006 VVER, designed exclusively for the site on the eastern bank of the Padma river. Commissioning of the first unit of power plant would be held in April 2018 and it would go for production in 2023. The next one will go for production in 2024, according to the RNPP schedule.

“Now we have the main focus on the main construction of the country's first ever nuclear power plant. It is likely to begin by August 2017,” said the PD.

“As the site licence is likely to be approved this month, the commission may submit advanced documents of the site and detailed engineering survey reports to BAERA by next six months so that we get the construction licence early next year,” he observed.