The government expects to begin supplying electricity to the national grid from the Pabna’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant by November. Concurrently, work is progressing with the goal of completing the fuel loading or reactor activation process for the second unit of the country’s first nuclear power plant by June next year. The overall progress and future work plan of the power plant were discussed in detail during the first meeting of the Thirteenth National Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday (October 14).
Regarding the meeting, a press release from the Ministry of Science and Technology stated that the first meeting of the Committee, presided over by National Parliament Whip and President of the Thirteenth National Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, was held on Wednesday at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. During the meeting, the overall progress and future work plan of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project were discussed in detail.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Holy Quran was recited. The committee president then deeply remembered the announcer of independence, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the brave martyrs of the Great War of Liberation, and the martyrs killed in the historic July Mass Uprising of 2024. Subsequently, an introduction session for officials from the ministry, divisions, and departments took place, followed by a presentation of official activities through a PowerPoint presentation.
During the presentation at the meeting, it was informed that the preliminary physical and criticality tests of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project have successfully commenced. Through fruitful discussions with Russia’s state atomic energy corporation ‘Rosatom’, it is hoped that electricity supply to the national grid from this mega-project will begin by November. Additionally, work is advancing with the target of completing the fuel loading or reactor activation process for the second unit by June next year.
Regarding the project’s security and technological aspects, it was stated in the meeting that it is a third-generation, state-of-the-art, and safe nuclear plant. Every stage of its implementation is being carried out maintaining international standards and under the strict supervision of experts. Therefore, there is no room for any misunderstanding concerning it. According to international energy experts, the project is also on the right track.
The meeting also informed that alongside electricity generation, work is underway to spread the benefits of nuclear medicine in the health sector to district levels, and the construction of the country’s first research vessel is currently ongoing. It is hoped that all activities of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be successfully completed within the stipulated time.
Furthermore, the meeting recommended organizing science fairs grandly at school and college levels to awaken innovative power among future generations. Emphasis was also placed on taking effective steps to innovate new products and export them abroad to earn foreign currency.
In addition to the Minister of Science and Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, Members of Parliament (MP) A Z M Rezwanul Haque, Md. Anwarul Islam, Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury, K M Babar, Sansila Jabreen, Salah Uddin, Mardia Mumtaz, and Md. Abdul Gafur, among others, participated in the parliamentary meeting. Also present were the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Md. Anwar Hossain, along with senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions, and departments, and officials from the National Parliament Secretariat.