The government is considering installing cyber security system and physical protection system (PPS) for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to strengthen cyber resilience measures of the country’s maiden plant.
“We may deploy the Armed Forces for PPS,” an official source said.
He said the power plant authorities have a plan to seek approval from the Armed Forces and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.
Besides, the government has a plan to form a high-powered committee for developing cyber security system, another sources said.
The government has already taken necessary preparation for safety and security of the nuclear power plant.
But, the government wants to ensure cent percent security before and after operation of the country maiden power plant, the official said.
The unit-1 of the Rooppur power plant is expected to commence provisional takeover or pre-commercial operation on February 17, 2024, from previously scheduled October 2023. The unit-1 of the plant will commence operations in February 2025, official sources confirmed.
Besides, the work of loading uranium fuel into the first reactor will begin on February 21, 2023, as per the new schedule. It will be on October 8, 2023, for unit-2.
The start of test and checking equipment for unit-1 will begin on January 19, 2022, reliable sources said after attending a review meeting chaired by Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman.
According to sources, Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited is implementing 74 installations and infrastructures, including reactor building, reactor auxiliary buildings, turbine buildings, normal and power supply buildings for unit-1 and unit-2 for setting up the Rooppur nuclear power project.
Some 2,417 foreigners are now working for NPP site and another 2,500 foreigners will join the project within December.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will consist of two power units equipped with two VVER reactors, the life cycle of which is 60 years with an option to extend the service life for another 20 years. The power capacity of each unit will be 1200 MW.
A third-generation technology is being used to construct the plant with a five-layer security system. With the first nuclear power plant at Rooppur, Bangladesh will become the third Asian country — after India and Pakistan — to harness the power of atoms.
International Energy Agency (IEA) last month expressed concern over the cyber threat to the power sector and suggested strengthening cyber resilience measures and making them a central part of the planning and operation of power systems amid the COVID-19 crisis.
According to the IEA, the importance of electricity is only set to increase in the years ahead, calling for a more comprehensive approach to electricity security to meet evolving challenges such as cyber threats, extreme weather events.
Responding to the IEA report, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) Engr AM Khurshedul Alam said, “The government has already directed us to take necessary steps for ensuring maximum cyber security in the power sector.”
The NWPGCL has already adopted security alerts in all power plants operated by them, according to him.