'Ruppur nuclear power plant's construction set to begin in June'

Construction works of the Ruppur nuclear power plant on the Bank of Padma River is scheduled to begin in June this year after obtaining permit from local regulators, reports Russian Sputnik News.

The Sputnik News reported on Wednesday quoting Rosatom state atomic energy cooperation director general Alexey Likhachev.

"This will indeed be the second half of 2017, but naturally after receiving all the permits from the Bangladeshi regulator," Likhachev was quoted to have said.

The report said the Ruppur power plant is located on the eastern bank of the Padma River that is 100 miles away from Dhaka city.

The power plant will consist of two power generation units with Russian VVER-1200 reactors, generating 1.2 GWe each, it added.

The reactors are based on NPP-2006 project of nuclear power plant of "3+" generation, boasting enhanced safety and able to withstand tsunami, hurricane or a fallen aircraft, the Rosatom official was quoted to have said.

It said the first bloc of the power plant is expected to be launched in 2022 while the second one in 2023.

Each bloc is supposed to be exploited for 60 years, the report also reads.

Source: Prothom Alo