Rooppur nuke plant telecom project set for 91% cost hike, deadline now June 2026

The project to establish the “External Telecommunication Network for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant” is set to incur a 91% cost increase, with the completion date now extended to June 2026.

Approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 22 March 2022, the project was originally expected to cost Tk378.84 crore and be completed by March 2024. However, by that time, only Tk4.82 crore had been spent, reflecting just 0.01% progress both in terms of finances and work, a planning official told the Daily Sun.

The project has since been included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal 2024-25, with a revised budget of Tk184 crore. A proposal has been submitted to extend the completion date to June 2026 and increase the total cost to Tk723.78 crore.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, through Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), is overseeing the project, which is deemed crucial for the country’s economic growth, according to a BTCL official.

The BTCL official explained that the project's network design relied on Russian consultants, but delays in finalising agreements, due to conditions tied to the consultants' fees, caused significant setbacks. Additionally, leasing optical fibre from three NTTN (National Telecommunications Transmission Network) operators based on the Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) model resulted in costs far exceeding the original estimate in the Development Project Proposal (DPP).

A sharp rise in foreign exchange rates has further escalated the foreign expenditure component of the project, the official noted.

“Following requests from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), additional work has been proposed for inclusion in the Revised Development Project Proposal (RDPP). This includes the installation of an Automated Environmental Radiation Monitoring System (AERMS), Local Announcement System (LAS), CCTV surveillance systems, and equipment for meteorological stations,” the official added.

The Planning Commission has advised that the project's updated goals should align with its specific objectives. It also recommended that clear reasons for the revision, details of financial progress, and a plan for maintaining and operating the system after its completion be provided.

If these guidelines are adhered to, the Planning Commission is likely to approve the first revision of the project, with the extended timeline to June 2026 ensuring its successful completion.