What's new

Dhaka, Moscow on the verge of N-power deal

CaPtAiN_pLaNeT

SENIOR MEMBER
May 10, 2010
7,685
0
4,792
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Front Page
Dhaka, Moscow on the verge of N-power deal

Dhaka, Moscow on the verge of N-power deal

M Abul Kalam Azad

Almost two years after initiating the process, Bangladesh and Russia are set to finalise a draft agreement on setting up two 1000 megawatt nuclear power plants in Rooppur.

“The two countries are contemplating on some aspects of the draft which is going to be signed soon,” State Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology Yeafesh Osman told The Daily Star yesterday.

This would be the last step before the two sides strike a final deal at the end of April during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Moscow, he added.

A five-member team, headed by Deputy Director of Rosatom Nikolai Spasskiy, arrived in Dhaka yesterday to initial the draft agreement following a meeting with the ICT state minister.

The prime minister will discuss the progress of the project with her senior colleagues and the experts on March 2.

The estimated cost of a 1000MW nuclear power plant ranges between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, ministry sources said.

Yeafesh noted that Russia committed to arrange finance for the two plants.

According to experts, installation of a unit will take at least five years after signing of the final accord.

The government acquired 260 acres of land for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project which was conceived in early 1960s.

Feasibility studies found the project to be technically and economically viable. International Atomic Energy Agency also gave Bangladesh the go-ahead.

Security aspect of these plants poses a major concern for Bangladesh as these use highly radioactive nuclear fuel. It could not be stored just anywhere without the risk of groundwater contamination or environmental degradation.

The risk factor has been curtailed as Russia has agreed to take away the spent fuel instead of storing them here, mentioned the state minister.

In an attempt to solve country's nagging power crisis the present government started talks with different countries including Russia, France and China to set up nuclear power plants.

Following fruitful talks, Russia struck a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 13, 2009 in Dhaka to pave the way for setting up the plants.

As per the understanding, Russia will supply Bangladesh with nuclear materials and provide services in the field of nuclear fuel cycle in accordance with national legislations of the two states and international treaties to which both Bangladesh and Russia are parties.

The MoU also includes terms for cooperation in education, training, updating skills of administrative, scientific and technical persons and radioactive waste management.

The two countries moved further ahead when they signed a protocol deal in October 2009 in Moscow on peaceful usage of atomic energy.
 
Bangladesh Signs Deal with Russia for 2000 MW Nuclear Plant at Rooppur

Shahnaj Begum
Thursday, 02.24.2011, 01:33pm (GMT)

DHAKA - Bangladesh today signed a primary deal with Russia for installing a 2000 MW nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna.



By signing the deal, the government launched country's first nuclear power plant project (NPP) which would be completed in 2017-18 at the cost of US$ 1.5 to 2 billions.



Secretary of the ministry of Science Abdur Rob Howlader and ICT and Deputy Director General of Russian Atomic Energy Corporation Nickolay Spasskiy initialed the deal on behalf of their respective country at Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.



State Minister for Science and ICT, Yeafesh Osman, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Gennady P. Trotsenko and high officials of the ministry and Russian Embassy were present on the occasion.



Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Prepared the action plan for executing the power Plant project to meet the growing demand for energy.



"Both the sides agreed to install two third-generation reactors, each with 1,000 MW capacity, " a top official of the ministry told .



He said the final deal would be signed in April this year when the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to visit Russia.



According to the ministry, Russia will manage the spent-fuel and recycle it.



Bangladesh completed all necessary preparations for setting up a nuclear power plant and signed MoUs with China, Russia, USA, France and India for cooperation in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy. It also initiated talks with South Korea.



Considering the present reserves of gas, coal and other sources of energy in the country, the revised National Energy Policy (2008) strongly favoured a nuclear power plant as other imported fuel options like coal and oil for power generation are becoming increasingly expensive.



"We are moving fast to sign the agreement with Russia. We would complete all necessary procedures by one or two months. We are moving forward to fulfill our commitment to set up a nuclear power plant, " said State Minister for Science and ICT, Yeafesh Osman.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 1, Members: 0, Guests: 1)


Pakistan Defence Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom