Nuclear power plants with Russian aid

Dhaka, Moscow sign agreement
Bangladesh and Russia signed yesterday a five-year “Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes” having the way for the establishment of nuclear power plants to meet the growing power needs of the country.
In a press release, the foreign ministry said that state minister for science and ICT Architect Yeafesh Osman signed the agreement on behalf of the Bangladesh government while Sergey Kiriyenko, Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom,  signed on behalf of the Russian government.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, who held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow yesterday, witnessed the signing ceremony.
During their official talks, the Russian Foreign Minister expressed his government’s full support for establishing nuclear power plants in Bangladesh. Both the foreign ministers expressed satisfaction over the sighing of the “Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes”. Both the countries agreed to work jointly on further steps for the nuclear power plants and speed up necessary actions.
Russia expressed its willingness to support Bangladesh in enhancing power generation through modernisation and rehabilitation of the Russian built conventional power plants along with the technology of combined cycle generation and developing new units of production to meet the growing power deficit in Bangladesh. The two foreign ministers emphasised on working together in oil and gas exploration and development of the sector for which delegation of the Russian state company, “Gazprom”, will visit Bangladesh for assessment and conclusion of an MOU.
They also agreed to work together in the area of counter-terrorism and to develop a joint-working group for that purpose.
The Russian Foreign Minister said that the Russian leadership was looking forward to receiving the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in Russia. The two foreign ministers agreed to finalise necessary preparations for the visit.
As per the nuclear framework agreement, future cooperation between the two countries would include, among others, (i) design, construction and operation of nuclear power and research reactors; (ii) nuclear fuel supply, taking back the spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste management; (iii) personnel training and capacity building for the operation and maintenance of the plants; (iv) research, education and training of personnel in the Russian Federation in the use of nuclear energy; (v) development of innovative reactor technologies in accordance with IAEA safety requirements, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and environmental protection; and (vi) exploration and mining of uranium and thorium deposits.
According to the agreement, the parties shall assure the transfer of materials, technologies, equipment and services for implementation of joint programmes in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The parties shall establish a joint coordination committee to monitor the implementation of this agreement.
After the signing of the agreement, Director General of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko, who is a former Prime Minister of Russia, expressed his full support and commitment for establishing nuclear power plants in Bangladesh.
A high-level delegation from Russia will visit Bangladesh soon to take the next steps in implementing the Rooppur nuclear power plant Project.
The Foreign Minister and the State Minister for Science and ICT spoke about the determination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to build nuclear power plants to meet the rising power demand.
Dr. SM Saiful Hoque, Bangladesh’s ambassador to the Russian Federation; Md. Abdur Rob Howlader, Secretary, Ministry of Science and ICT; AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Director General (Europe and EU), Dr. Farid Uddin Ahmed, member, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Akbar, Project Director of Rooppur nuclear power plant project, were present at the signing ceremony.
The Bangladesh delegation also had an official meeting with State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” on May 19.
The State Minister for Science and ICT emphasised the need for nuclear power option in meeting the increasing power shortage and the election pledge of the present government on the nuclear power project.
The Bangladesh side requested the Russian authorities to assist in establishing two nuclear reactors with a capacity of 1000 MW each.
Nikolay Spasskiy, the Deputy Director General, International Cooperation of ROSATOM, termed Bangladesh as a strategic partner of Russia. He said that nuclear energy was the best choice to meet the growing energy needs in Bangladesh.

Courtesy of The Independent