Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant at Rooppur has seen its overall project cost revised due to a sharp rise in the dollar exchange rate and global market fluctuations, though the government has optimised its funding to save Tk166 crore, officials said.
A senior Planning Commission official said that the project, being implemented under the Ministry of Science and Technology, was originally approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 6 December 2016 with an estimated cost of Tk1.13 lakh crore and a completion deadline of December 2025.
Under the revised Development Project Proposal (DPP), the project timeline has been extended to June 2028, with the updated total estimated cost rising to Tk1.38 lakh and 685 crore. The revised proposal is scheduled to be placed before an ECNEC meeting today for approval, the official said.
Despite the higher overall cost, savings of Tk166 crore in the government-funded (GoB) portion of the project will ease direct pressure on the national budget, an official of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) said.
“The original budget was calculated at a dollar rate of Tk80 per US dollar, but over the past nine years the exchange rate has risen to around Tk122.40, increasing the local currency cost of foreign loans,” he said. “The revised DPP reallocates expenditure across sectors to maintain efficiency.”
According to the revised DPP (RDPP), allocations have increased in 34 sectors and decreased in 49 others.
Savings have been generated from manpower expenses, land acquisition compensation, electricity bills and consultancy fees.
Ten new sectors have been added to meet emerging project requirements, while long-term operation and maintenance contracts are currently under negotiation.
The revised plan also includes construction of facilities for foreign personnel in the Green City residential area, completion of unfinished buildings, and acquisition of about 6.06 acres of land for additional infrastructure.
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) has recommended extending the loan agreement, with the provisional takeover of Unit-2 now expected by December 2027.
The Planning Commission noted that the Rooppur project remains cost-competitive by international standards when compared with similar VVER-1200 reactor projects, including Hungary’s two-unit plant at $13.2 billion, Egypt’s four-unit plant at $30 billion, Turkey’s four-unit plant at $20 billion, and Belarus’ two-unit plant at $11 billion.
Soikat Ahmed, focal point (media) and senior scientific officer at BAEC, said a fully revised project proposal has been submitted to the Planning Commission.
“Unit-1 is in its final stage, with physical construction and equipment installation largely completed and trial operations nearly finished. Commercial power generation will be introduced gradually to ensure operational safety,” he said. “Construction of Unit-2 is also progressing, with around 90% of physical work completed.”
Overall, the project is about 95% complete in both financial and physical terms, with only minor works and testing remaining, he added.
Soikat Ahmed said the Rooppur plant will play a vital role in meeting Bangladesh’s growing electricity demand, particularly in the northern region, while reducing dependence on gas. He stressed that a diversified energy mix -- combining nuclear, gas, coal and renewable sources -- is essential for long-term energy security.
“Some delays and administrative adjustments are inevitable, but the government’s priority remains safe, controlled and sustainable power generation,” Ahmed said, noting that electricity output during the trial phase will be irregular, with stable supply expected only after full commissioning and formal handover.
Once both units are operational, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will add about 2,400 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
“This cost adjustment ensures efficiency while maintaining the strategic importance of Rooppur for Bangladesh’s energy security,” Ahmed said.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
