PM seeks Russian cooperation to install another nuclear power plant

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought Russian support and cooperation to set up another nuclear power plant in the country’s southern region.

“We want to install another nuclear power plant in the country’s southern region and continuous Russian support is needed in this regard,” she said.

The premier said this while Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, ROSATOM’s Director General Alexey Likhachev called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban here this morning.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the newsmen about the outcome of the meeting.

Bangladesh is setting up its first ever nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna with the technical and financial support of Russia. Russian State Atomic Engergy Corporation, ROSATOM is providing this support.

Laying utmost emphasis on the security issues, the premier urged the ROSATOM director general to train up local people so they can run the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

Alexey Likhachev said cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia stepped into atomic-sphere and Bangladesh will become a country enriched with nuclear energy and power by 2023.

He said his country will train up Bangladeshi people to operate the RNPP, adding their cooperation to Bangladesh’s power sector will continue.

He also praised the local workforce as over 20,000 persons including engineers, technicians and others are working in the RNPP who are making remarkable contribution.

Many Bangladeshi companies are also engaged in subcontract, he said.

The ROSATOM director general appreciated the cooperation of the concerned ministries and Bangladesh Atomic Commission regarding the implementation of RNPP, but “time of implementation may be adjusted”.

Regarding the security issues, he said RNPP is their top priority and they are also working on the social development in the neighborhood areas of the plant.

He also presented the technical and security aspects of the RNPP before the Prime Minister.

Alexey Likhachev praised the prime minister highly for her support towards the implementation of RNPP.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also fondly recalled the support of the then Russian Federation during the War of Liberation.

She also told the ROSATOM director general that the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed Bangladesh’s progress slightly, but now the country is overcoming the situation and moving ahead.

The ROSATOM official extended his gratitude to the health ministry as over 90 percent of the Russian nationals working at RNPP have been vaccinated by them.

Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry Ziaul Hasan were also present.

Sheikh Hasina on Sunday remotely inaugurated the reactor pressure vessel installation work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), which is being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission with the technical and financial support of Russia.

With installation of the reactor in the main unit of RNPP in Pabna, the country’s dream to generate nuclear energy is going to be materialized.

Rosatom’s director general Alexey Likhachev joined the installation work of reactor pressure vessel as special guest.

Installation of almost all types of nuclear equipment was completed by setting up reactor pressure vessels inside the physical structure of Unit-1. As a result, the work inside the reactor building of this unit nears completion.

RNPP has accumulated the best Russian practice and dozens of years of experience and scientific thoughts and the unique combination of active and passive systems of the power units will ensure safe operation of the power plant and guarantee the planned level of electricity generation.

The RNPP in Pabna that consists of two units with capacity of 1,200MW power each is the country’s maiden power project of its kind. (BSS)