Pabna, Dec 01 (V7N) – With the scheduled nuclear fuel loading at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant set for December, preparations at the project site have intensified. As part of these measures, a 14-day advanced, international-standard firefighting training program for on-site fire personnel has been successfully completed.

The two-week course, titled “Firefighting in Radio-Chemical, Electrical, Explosive and Fire-Hazard Zones at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant,” was conducted to strengthen emergency response capabilities in radiation-prone areas.

Squadron Leader (Retd.) S M Mahmud Arafat, Deputy Chief Superintendent of Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Ltd. (NPCBL) and head of Fire Division and Physical Protection, confirmed on Sunday that the radiation-area firefighting course had been completed.

According to NPCBL, the 80-hour intensive program included both theoretical and practical modules. Participants received hands-on training in specialized firefighting techniques for radioactive zones, radiation safety protocols, radiation level monitoring, dosimeter operation, contamination control and the effective use of personal protective equipment.

The training was overseen by Md. Golam Shahinur Islam, head of the Training Division, and his deputy Md. Moniruzzaman. Fire Safety instructor Syed Nazmul Hossain supported course coordination.

In the first phase, 23 firefighters took part in the program, including one senior station officer, three leaders, fifteen firefighters and four drivers (firefighters). All participants successfully passed both theoretical and practical assessments. A second phase involving an additional 12 firefighters is currently underway.

Deputy Training Chief Md. Moniruzzaman said participants also received practical training using the state-of-the-art automatic firefighting systems installed at the NPP. The course covered deluge systems, water mist systems, inert gas suppression, foam technology and dry chemical powder systems.

Instructor Syed Nazmul Hossain added that, during the second week, field exercises were conducted in the presence of representatives from general contractor Atomstroyexport (ASE) and NPCBL. Firefighters trained with specialized firefighting vehicles, including four water tenders, one foam tender, one gas-and-smoke-zone firefighting unit, one fire pump truck, one rescue vehicle, one radiochemical monitoring unit, one communication and lighting truck, one pump-hose truck and one aerial fire vehicle.

NPCBL Managing Director Dr. Zahedul Hasan stated that the program is a major step toward strengthening the plant’s overall safety framework. He said the training enhances emergency response abilities in radiation-risk environments and marks a significant milestone in developing essential manpower for Bangladesh’s nuclear energy sector. He noted that the international-standard training has added a new dimension to the safety culture of the Rooppur project.

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