Bangladesh government approves Tk 1.13 trillion nuclear power plant

The most expensive project in Bangladesh’s history - a Tk 1.13 trillion nuclear power plant, has been approved by the government.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 6 Dec 2016, 02:11 PM
Updated : 6 Dec 2016, 02:11 PM

The first-ever N-power plant is to be built at Rooppur in the northern district of Pabna.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the approval came on Tuesday at the Executive Council of the National Economic Committee (ECNEC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
 
“Initial steps had been taken for a similar project during Bangabandhu’s time in power,” he said at a press conference after the meeting. 
 
“The plan was then for a 200MW plant. Nuclear scientist Dr Wajed Miah was appointed the director of the project.
 

"It stalled after Bangabandhu’s death and was revived in 1996, when the Awami League took office. It was not financially feasible at that time. But now, with the support from Russia, it will go ahead.”
“The project is the most expensive in Bangladesh’s history,” said the minister.
The two units of the project are estimated to generate 2400MW of electricity.
Russia will provide loans of approximately Tk 910 billion ($11.38 billion) for the project. The remaining Tk 220 billion will be funded by the Bangladesh government.
The Russian loan will have to be repaid in 20 years with a grace period of 10 years.
The project, initiated by the science and technology ministry, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) and is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
More than 2,500 jobs will be created for commissioning, maintenance and operation of the project at different stages, the minister added. 
Another 369 people will be employed by the project’s management unit.
  In 2013, the government approved Tk 50.87 billion for the preliminary phase for the Rooppur nuclear power plant. Russia had provided Tk 40 billion in loans for that project.
The BAEC and Russia's Atomstroy Export (ASE) had signed four deals for implementing the preliminary phase of the project.