The installation of a molten core catcher, a device meant to curb the effects of a nuclear meltdown, in the unlikely event of its occurence, began at the site of the Russian-designed Rooppur NPP Unit 1 in Bangladesh.

The molten core catcher is a unique safety device developed by Russian nuclear engineers. Its cone-shaped body is placed under the reactor pressure vessel and filled with a special material, which mixes up with the reactor core materials in case of a meltdown.

The catcher is the first piece of large-size equipment (about 200 tons) to be installed in the reactor building. The installation is scheduled to be completed within half a year.

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Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors and the total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed under the Russian design, in accordance with the General Contract, signed on 25 December 2015. Atomstroyexport, the Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation, is implementing the project as the General Contractor.

The “first concrete” ceremony for Unit 1 took place on November 30, 2017, marking the beginning of main construction phase. The “first concrete” ceremony for the Unit 2  was held on July 14 of the current year.

Each stage of Roopur NPP construction is stringently monitored by IAEA and  the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).