The installation of the device for catching the molten core material (“core catcher”) has commenced at the construction site of power unit No 1 of Roopur NPP.
“This is a unique protection system of the NPP and the first large-size equipment that is being installed in the reactor building. Its weight is about 200 tons. According to the schedule, the installation will be completed in 6 months”, said Alexander Khazin, senior vice-president for overseas projects. “All the works for the construction of power unit No1 are performed according to the schedule. Currently about 5 thousand tons of cement are being used daily at the construction site, about 4 thousand people are involved in construction activities”.
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The core catcher is one of the elements of the passive safety system. It was first installed at Tianwan NPP in China which was build under the Russian design. VVER-1200 reactors of generation III+ design implemented in Rooppur NPP project use a unique combination of active and passive safety systems that ensure maximum stability against external and internal factors.
Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors and the total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed under the Russian design, 160 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in accordance with General Contract dated 25 December 2015. The General Contractor is Atomstroyexport (the engineering division of Rosatom).
The Russian design with VVER-1200 reactors that was selected for the first NPP in Bangladesh, was successfully implemented at Unit No 1 of Novovoronezh NPP-2. This is an evolutionary GenIII+ design which fully complies with all international safety requirements. In 2017, the well-known international magazine POWER (USA) rated the new Russian power unit among the three best nuclear power units in the word. In 2015-2016 preparatory works were performed at the construction site, detail design documentation and materials for receiving the license for the power unit location and construction, were developed. In 2017, Rooppur NPP project implementation continued according to the schedule. On 4 November 2017, the regulatory authority of Bangladesh (BAERA) issued the license for the NPP design and construction. On 20 November the ceremony of first concrete pouring for power unit No 1 took place. On 14 July 2018 the active phase of construction of power unit No 2 commenced marked by the ceremony of first concrete pouring into the power unit foundation. Each stage of Roopur NPP construction will be stringently monitored by IAEA and the national regulatory authority.
