<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman has said that the government is trying to complete the construction works of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project within the stipulated timeframe.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Due to the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent dollar crisis, the work of the project has been delayed to some extent”, he said while briefing reporters after a joint meeting of his ministry with the Power Division on Wednesday at Biduyt Bhaban in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid was also present at the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting was mainly convened to discuss the progress of the construction of a power transmission line to be used to evacuate electricity from the nuclear power project.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2400 MW Ruupor NPP project, having two units, each 1200 MW generation capacity, was undertaken in 2010.</div><div><br></div><div>A target was set by the government to complete the construction of the first unit in 2022 and second unit in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>But later the target was reset for first unit to complete by June 2024 and second unit by June 2025.</div><div><br></div><div>But officials involved in the project believe the project may miss the new timeline again.</div><div><br></div><div>The Minister did not specify how much time will take if the project is delayed again.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’re trying to do the job within the nearest point of the timeline”, he said, adding, both the Science and Technology Ministry and the Power Division will work together in a coordinated manner to complete the project.</div><div><br></div><div>About the power transmission line project, Nasrul said the project was also delayed for the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“Now efforts are being made to expedite the project implementation”, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the transmission line’s Padma River crossing is a big work of the project which may take another one and a half year time to complete.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hope we will be able to complete the transmission line before completion of power plant project,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>