The reactor containment at unit 1 of the Rooppur NPP being built by Rosatom in Bangladesh has been successfully tested for density and strength. The tests confirmed full compliance with design requirements and the highest safety standards. During the tests, a compressor was used inside the sealed enclosure to increase the pressure to a design value of about 0.45 MPa and a set of tests was carried out to confirm the tightness of the structure and its ability to withstand internal loads under abnormal conditions.
The tests confirmed that the containment fully meets the design requirements. Rosatom said this is especially important as preparations get under way for loading nuclear fuel as the containment serves as the last protective barrier in the event of a hypothetical accident.
An airtight containment is a physical barrier made of prestressed reinforced concrete with an internal sealing steel lining. It is designed to prevent the release of radioactive substances into the environment in the event of an emergency and their localisation inside the enclosure, as well as to protect against possible external influences.
“The test results confirm that the hermetic enclosure system fully complies with all design and regulatory requirements,” said Alexey Deriy, Vice President for Projects in Bangladesh at Atomstroyexport. “This is an important step towards putting the first power unit into operation and evidence of the high quality of work at all stages of construction.” Hot testing of the system will be the next stage.
The Rooppur plant is being built by Rosatom on the eastern bank of the Ganges River in Bangladesh’s Pabna district, about 160 km northwest of Dhaka. It will comprise two VVER-1200 reactors. In November 2011, Russia and Bangladesh signed an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the NPP and in mid-December 2015, a general contract was signed. Construction began in 2021. Construction of unit 1 began in November 2017 and unit 2 in July 2018. The plant’s design life is 60 years, with the possibility of extending its operating life for another 20 years. Fresh fuel for the units was delivered to the site in the latter part of 2023.
