Dhaka readies groundwork for nuclear power deals

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/mar/31/front.html#6

Dhaka readies groundwork for nuclear power deals

Nazrul Islam

Dhaka has completed the groundwork for negotiating nuclear power deals with Russia, South Korea, China and France aimed at the construction of two medium-sized 600MW nuclear power plants by 2017, officials said.

Dhaka holds talks with a Russian delegation today to know of Moscow’s ability at and technology for the installation of such power plants.

‘We will also discuss signing an agreement on peaceful use of nuclear energy between Bangladesh and Moscow,’ an official at the science and ICT ministry told New Age.

Bangladesh so far has bilateral agreements on nuclear cooperation with the United States, France and China. Along with Russia, South Korea, China and France have expressed interest in the installation of nuclear power plants in Bangladesh after the Awami League-led government had assumed office.

The government is seriously considering options for nuclear power against the backdrop of severe power crisis and bleak future of power generation with traditional energy sources.

Bangladesh has also a vision to have two more units, each with the production capacity of 1,000MW, of nuclear power plant by 2025.

The officials had initial talks with the representatives of China and South Korea. They are expecting further discussion to look into the options for nuclear power.

The country has for long been nursing a nuclear power plants site at Rooppur, feasibility studies for which have certified the project technically and economically viable.

International Atomic Energy Commission representatives, who visited the site in November 2008, also gave Bangladesh a go-ahead with the project.

But experts are worried about possible sources of financing to set up such plants as they estimated the cost to range between $900 million to $1.2 billion for a medium-sized plant with the generation capacity of 600MW.

The estimated cost of a 1,000MW nuclear power plant ranges between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, according to a paper prepared by the science and ICT ministry.

Asked about the timeframe for the installation of a nuclear power plant, former Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission chairman Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan said the installation of a unit would taken between 45 and 60 months after commissioning a deal for such a project.

Bangladesh may need two more years to complete its preparation to improve the safety standards at the site and environmental standards, said another expert.

The IAEA, which gave a technical project to Bangladesh, also suggested completion of certain regulatory and safety tasks beside infrastructure development.

In line with its 19-point suggestions, the government prepared a draft improving the existing nuclear law.

‘Once the draft is finalised, it will be sent to Geneva for comments before it gets approval back home,’ an official at the ministry said.

In 1980, Bangladesh’s National Economic Council approved the proposal for the installation of the Rooppur nuclear power. The project was originally taken up in 1961.

In recent negotiations, Dhaka has sought assistance from South Korea to help set up nuclear plants in Bangladesh.

‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to know how efficient and cost-effective South Korean technology could be for the installation of the nuclear power plants,’ Suk-Bum Park, the South Korean ambassador in Dhaka, told New Age. He said the negotiation may resume any time.

A French embassy official said Bangladesh had initial talks with a French company called AREVA.

Four hundred and thirty-nine nuclear power plants, now in operation worldwide, are providing about 16 per cent of the global electricity production.

France produces 79 per cent of its total electricity through 59 units, Belgium 58 per cent, Sweden 44 per cent, Korea 40 per cent, Japan 35 per cent, and the United States 20 per cent having 104 units, according to a report prepared in 2008 by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.