BAEC signs deal with Russian company for nuclear power plant at Pabna’s Rooppur

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) has signed an agreement with Atomstroyexport of the Russian Federation to build the country’s first nuclear power plant at Pabna’s Rooppur.

The Russian company will construct two power plants of 1200 MW, each costing $12.65 billion.

BAEC Chairman Manirul Islam and Senior Vice President of Atomstroyexport Vladimir Savushkin signed the agreement at Dhaka’s Sonargaon Hotel on Friday evening.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the deal on Wednesday.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and Science and Technology Minister Yafes Osman were also present at the signing ceremony.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation of this power project at Rooppur in October, 2013. A bill was passed in Parliament in August this year to establish a company to run the nuclear power plant.

According to the law, BAEC will own the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant while the Nuclear Power Palnt Company, Bangladesh will run it.

The plant will be in operation for 50 years. The government expects to activate the first unit of the plant by 2021.

The initiative to set up the nuclear plant was taken in 1961.  Later in 1963, Rooppur was selected out of 12 proposed sites for the plant.

After the Awami League-led government came to power, it took fresh initiative to implement the 50-year old proposal.

A national committee was formed in 2010 to fast-track setting up of the plant.  The same year a framework agreement was signed with Russia.

 In November 2011, the two countries signed an agreement to set up the nuclear power plant.

To allay all apprehension about the safety of the plant, the government has said that it will be built with third-generation technology protected by five-layers of security.

As per the agreement, Russia will take back the nuclear waste generated by the plant.