First Bangladeshi nuke plant breaks ground in Sept

Bangladesh will have it first nuclear power plant operating by October 2015.

The groundbreaking work will start in September this year, said the country's Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman in a press conference organized by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

Three officials of the BAEC made presentation on different aspects -- infrastructure, technical and legal -- of the proposed power plant project.

Bangladesh signed a number of agreements with the Russian Federation in January during Prime Minister Shikh Hasina’s recent Moscow visit to build a 2000 MW capacity nuclear power plant with two units each having 1000 MW capacity.

As per the deal, Russia will provide 90 percent of the required fund for the project of which US$ 500 million will be provided for design, infrastructure development and training of the plant’s personnel.

Osman said the International Atomic Energy Agency has been cooperating with Bangladesh in implementing the power plant project with its oversee role.

He added that so far India did not show any negative attitude. “India didn’t show anything against our project.

We don’t have that kind of problem which happens with the neighbouring countries,” he said.

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