OREANDA-NEWS.  On April 9, 2016, АSE Group of Companies, engineering division of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) arranged a press tour on the construction site of NPP Rooppur, designed after Russian nuclear technologies. The visit was organized to familiarize the public with the progress of construction work at the site.

The delegation was headed by Md. Serajul Hug Khan, Hon’ble Secretary of the MoST. The visit was also attended by the Сhairman of BAEC Md. Ali Zulquarnain, Director of NPP Rooppur Project Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Akbar, as well as other representatives of government agencies and companies involved in the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh - Rooppur NPP.

“December 25, 2015 marked the key event of the year by witnessing the signing of the General Contract for construction of Rooppur NPP on a turn-key basis between Atomstroyexport and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. This event opened the way for startup of full-scale works on construction of Rooppur NPP site facilities”, - said Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Akbar, Director of Rooppur NPP Project.

Director of the branch of ASE in Rooppur region Pavel Vlasov told reporters about the current status of the project: “By the beginning of 2016, Atomstroyexport has already implemented civil works to build the so-called pioneer base and the first phase of construction and erection base at Rooppur NPP site. Therefore the plans for 2015 have been 100% implemented”, - said Pavel Vlasov.

Mr Vlasov also noted that in 2016, the works on construction and erection base will be continued, and the work on foundation pits for power Units 1 and 2 as well as soil stabilization activities for these pits are to be completed. Besides, the infrastructure works are also underway and equipment is delivered as required and scheduled.

The press tour was attended by 80 representatives of the leading socio-political and specialized media of Bangladesh.

The press tour is a part of Bangladesh–Russia Strategy for Promoting Communication in Bangladesh Nuclear Power for 2015–2021. The strategy which was signed in January, 2015 is intended to inform the local population on basic principles of nuclear energy as well as its advantages, safety, sustainability and economic efficiency.

Rooppur NPP project is implemented in accordance with the Agreement signed between the Governments of Russia and Bangladesh of 2 November 2011. The General Contractor is Atomstroyexport as part of ASE Group of Companies representing engineering division of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.

The design for Rooppur NPP was selected to be AES-2006, a Russian design with VVER-type reactors of 1200 MW each having a prototype at Novovoronezh NPP-2 (Russia). This is an evolutionary design of Generation III+ which meets all international safety requirements and recommendations. This design was offered for Rooppur NPP as the most efficient in terms of safety and reliability as well as the most beneficial for Bangladesh from economic point of view.