Rooppur NPP is the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh designed to generate electricity with the help of VVER-1200, the pressurized water reactors. They are equipped with passive safety systems allowing for suspending the operation of power units without external energy sources. In case of failure, such reactors may stay in autonomous mode for three days. VVER-1200 may operate without fuel for 18 months: during this period the reactor may generate 2.3 bn KW*h of electricity, which is compatible with the annual electricity consumption of Luxemburg.
Besides Bangladesh, Akkuyu NPP (Turkey) and El-Dabaa NPP (Egypt) currently under construction will be equipped with VVER-1200 reactors. Similar to Turkey and Egypt, Rooppur NPP is designed to provide for the increase of electricity consumption: according to Ember, the total demand for electricity in Bangladesh grew by 180% between 2010 and 2023 (from 41 TW*h up to 116 TW*h). It is no coincidence that during these years the country went through a glut of gas-fired and coal-fired generation: according to Global Energy Monitor, during the recent fifteen years 17.7 GW of gas-fired CHPP and 5.8 GW of coal-fired CHPP were commissioned in Bangladesh – more than during the entire preceding period of the country’s history.
However, Bangladesh outpaced the countries of South and East Asia more than three times in terms of average growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector between 2013 and 2023 (6.3% per annum versus 2% per annum, according to Energy Institute). Bangladesh may partially resolve this problem by commissioning the nuclear power plant allowing for minimizing the emissions without compromising the reliability of electricity supply.
