Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the Ministry of Science and ICT to expedite the ongoing negotiation with Russia for setting up nuclear power plants in Bangladesh, in a bid to alleviate the country's power generation crisis.

"The prime minister directed the ministry to take all necessary measures regarding implementation of the country's lone nuclear power project at Rooppur," a cabinet minister told The Daily Star. The directive came from Hasina at a weekly cabinet meeting in Bangladesh Secretariat, while she was talking about a report prepared and submitted by a Bangladeshi delegation that had attended the 53rd general assembly of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna from September 14 to 18.

Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin put forward the report with some recommendations regarding improvement of the country's energy situation, and for creating scope for inclusion of Bangladeshi nuclear scientists in IAEA. Meanwhile, an eight-member delegation, headed by Science and ICT Minister Yafes Osman, is scheduled to leave for Moscow on Saturday, to visit some of the Russian nuclear plants for having clearer ideas about that country's nuclear technology.

Power secretary, energy secretary, secretary to the Economic Relations Division, a joint secretary to the power, energy, and mineral resources ministry, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the same ministry, project director of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, and a member of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission are the other members of the team. "The visit is a follow-up to the successful discussion between the two countries in Dhaka in April this year," Joint Secretary to the Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Ministry MM Neazuddin told The Daily Star yesterday.

The Awami League government, which had assumed office with a promise of improving the country's power situation, kicked off nuclear talks with different countries including Russia, in a bid to strike a deal for installation of nuclear power units. At the talks, Moscow expressed its keen interest in assisting Dhaka in that regard while the latter articulated its desire to set up two 1,000 megawatt (MW) power plants. According to a paper prepared by the science and ICT ministry, the estimated cost of a 1,000MW nuclear power plant ranges between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. Experts say installation of such a unit will take at least five years since commissioning of the project. If the project is realised, it will manifest the government's vision of a mid-term power solution.

Russia's Deputy Director of Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation NN Spasskiy already visited Bangladesh in the second week of May, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dhaka to pave the way for exchanging nuclear technology, and for setting up nuclear power plants in Bangladesh. According to the MoU, both countries acknowledged that the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and assurance of nuclear and radiation safety are important factors in ensuring social and economic development of both states.

Moscow will assist in the development of nuclear energy infrastructure in Bangladesh, the MoU says adding that 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 countries are parties. Yafes Osman told reporters that Russia will initially set up a 600-1,000MW power plant at Rooppur. Rooppur Nuclear Power Project was conceived in the early 1960s, and 260 acres of land was acquired for it. Feasibility studies also found the project to be technically and economically viable, and IAEA gave Bangladesh the go-ahead.

-Daily Star