PABNA, JUNE 03 (V7N) – The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna has been successfully connected to the national grid transmission line, with the final connection work completed on Monday afternoon, June 2. According to project sources, the transmission line is scheduled for an energized test on June 15 to ensure it is free from defects and ready for power supply.

Enayet Karim, Executive Engineer of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), confirmed this significant milestone, stating that the successful connection of the Rooppur-Gopalganj 400 kV transmission line was completed on May 29. This achievement marks the fulfillment of the target to transmit electricity from the nuclear power plant to the Bangladesh national grid. The Rooppur-Gopalganj 400 kV line spans approximately 158 kilometers and features 414 towers.

To facilitate the transmission of electricity from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to the national grid, a total of eight lines have been planned: four at 400 kV and four at 230 kV. The 400 kV transmission lines include Rooppur-Bogra, Rooppur-Gopalganj, and the double circuit Rooppur-Aminbazar-Kaliakoir. The 230 kV lines are the Rooppur-Baghabari double kV and Rooppur-Dhamrai double kV transmission lines.

Prior to the physical startup of the nuclear power plant, two other high-voltage lines had already been prepared. The 'Rooppur-Baghabari 230 kV double transmission line' was commissioned on June 30, 2022, and the 'Rooppur-Bogra 400 kV transmission line' was commissioned on April 30, 2024. With the recent commissioning of the Rooppur-Gopalganj line, a total of four transmission lines are now ready, each boasting a transmission capacity of 2,000 MW.

Engineer Enayet Karim also stated that the remaining two transmission lines, the 400 kV double circuit Rooppur-Aminbazar-Kaliakoir and the 230 kV double circuit Rooppur-Dhamrai, are expected to be completed next year.

Dr. Zayedul Hasan, Managing Director of Nuclear Power Grid Company, emphasized the importance of this transmission line, noting that electricity can now be supplied and collected through this connection to the national grid as needed. He added that once all transmission line work is complete, the physical startup of the nuclear power plant will be possible.

Attempts to contact the newly appointed project director, Dr. Kabir Hossain, for comment were unsuccessful.

This development follows an instruction issued by Energy Advisor Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan on May 3, during his inspection of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, to PGCB and the gridline contractor to complete the grid transmission line work by May 30.

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