‘Nuclear power to boost country’s confidence’
UNB, Dhaka :
State Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman said the government’s decision to go for nuclear power plant is not just about adding electricity to the national grid, but also to boost the nation’s collective self-confidence.
“We believe this nuclear power project will take our confidence to new heights,” he said this on Thursday while addressing a seminar at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in the city. He said Russia will provide the same reactor and technology to Bangladesh that it gave to India – simply terming it “the latest one”.
Osman was most probably referring to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant located in Tamil Nadu on India’s southern coastline, that recently became fully operative, adding 1000 MW to their national grid.
The Kudankulam plant uses a Russian-designed Voda Voda Energo Reactor (“Water-Water Power Reactor”) – VVER1000/412 (AES-92). The AES-92 version features a passive heat removal system to complement the active one in other versions.
“India itself has been making advances in nuclear science and nuclear power generation.
They too have offered to help us,” the state minister added.
The IEB organised the seminar titled: “Energy Security and the Role of Nuclear Power” and Virginia Tech University Prof Dr. Saifur Rahman made a presentation on the topic.
In his presentation, he raised a number of questions surrounding the safety and security of the proposed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
“Burnt fuel has been a key concern and key issue for Bangladesh as many countries in the world now is facing the problem with the issue”, he said.
Responding to the questions and concern, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission member (planning) M Ali Zulquarnine said that there will be 5-stage safety in Rooppur plant and Russia will supply fresh fuel and also take bank the burnt fuel for the entire lifetime of 65 years of the project.
This has been ensured in the contract with Russia, he said. Zulquarnine also revealed that the Russians are currently in the process of carrying out a feasibility study on the project.
He said the project construction will start in 2017 and completed by 2021 to come into operation.
State Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman said the government’s decision to go for nuclear power plant is not just about adding electricity to the national grid, but also to boost the nation’s collective self-confidence.
“We believe this nuclear power project will take our confidence to new heights,” he said this on Thursday while addressing a seminar at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in the city. He said Russia will provide the same reactor and technology to Bangladesh that it gave to India – simply terming it “the latest one”.
Osman was most probably referring to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant located in Tamil Nadu on India’s southern coastline, that recently became fully operative, adding 1000 MW to their national grid.
The Kudankulam plant uses a Russian-designed Voda Voda Energo Reactor (“Water-Water Power Reactor”) – VVER1000/412 (AES-92). The AES-92 version features a passive heat removal system to complement the active one in other versions.
“India itself has been making advances in nuclear science and nuclear power generation.
They too have offered to help us,” the state minister added.
The IEB organised the seminar titled: “Energy Security and the Role of Nuclear Power” and Virginia Tech University Prof Dr. Saifur Rahman made a presentation on the topic.
In his presentation, he raised a number of questions surrounding the safety and security of the proposed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
“Burnt fuel has been a key concern and key issue for Bangladesh as many countries in the world now is facing the problem with the issue”, he said.
Responding to the questions and concern, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission member (planning) M Ali Zulquarnine said that there will be 5-stage safety in Rooppur plant and Russia will supply fresh fuel and also take bank the burnt fuel for the entire lifetime of 65 years of the project.
This has been ensured in the contract with Russia, he said. Zulquarnine also revealed that the Russians are currently in the process of carrying out a feasibility study on the project.
He said the project construction will start in 2017 and completed by 2021 to come into operation.