Bangladesh’s nuclear regulator has begun inspections at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant ahead of the planned power startup of Unit 1, following the reactor’s achievement of criticality on Sunday.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) launched the inspection programme on Sunday morning at a meeting held at the Rooppur project’s training centre auditorium.
The meeting was attended by the managing director of the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), representatives of the company, technical specialists and experts from VO-Safety.
The inspections, scheduled to run from October 11-17, will assess the technical, operational and safety requirements for moving Unit 1 towards the next stage of commissioning.
Regulators will examine relevant systems, documentation, operational readiness and the implementation of safety measures before power levels are increased.
According to the project authorities, Unit 1 achieved reactor criticality at 3.34pm local time on October 11. Criticality marks the point at which a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is established in the reactor. It does not, by itself, mean that the plant has begun supplying electricity to the national grid.
The inspection programme represents a key regulatory stage in preparations for the reactor’s power startup. Following the inspections, the findings will be assessed and the necessary regulatory procedures completed before the project can proceed to the next stage.