Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud recently said the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) has faced delays mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent implementation challenges but its overall cost has not increased in dollar terms.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the cost hike proposal at a meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus.
As per the new proposal the project cost hiked by Tk 25,592.85 crore.
Addressing concerns over rising project costs, the Planning Adviser said the apparent increase in cost is largely due to exchange rate fluctuations, as most of the project components are imported from Russia.
Bangladesh has already made repayments in dollars over time, and the taka value was calculated based on the exchange rates prevailing at the time of those payments, he added.
Dr Wahiduddin said Rooppur, with an estimated cost of around US$10–11 billion (approximately Tk 1.13 lakh crore), was originally scheduled for completion by December, 2025.
The Planning Adviser said that the project authorities have informed the government that they would need around one and a half more years to complete the work.
In addition, an extension of about two years has been sought for loan repayment as there are procedural and financial complexities involved in repaying the Russian loan, he added.
