JS adopts resolution to implement project
The parliament yesterday adopted a resolution for implementation of Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant Project to resolve country's power crisis.
Taking part in the discussion on the motion, Awami League lawmakers said there is no alternative to going for nuclear power to meet the country's growing demand.
They said the conventional power plants are based on gas, diesel and furnace oil which are very expensive. Besides, there is not enough reserve of gas in the country, they added.
Piloted by Mohammad Shahrier Alam, 11 lawmakers took part in the one-and-a-half-hour long discussion.
"It will take at least seven to eight years to complete the entire process. Although it involves huge amount of money, it can generate massive amount of power," said Commerce Minister Faruk Khan.
He added a country should have the image that it will use nuclear power peacefully and there will be no threat of capturing the plant by militants.
In his winding up speech to the seventh session, HM Ershad, chief of Jatiya Party, said the nation became hopeful about the nuclear plant following signing of a memorandum of understanding with Russia.
"It was our dream which will be implemented now. Thus the dream of Bangabandhu for setting up a nuclear power plant will be materialised," Ershad said.
Taking part in the discussion, AL lawmaker Shubid Ali Bhuiyan said there is no reason for being worried about nuclear waste management as Russia has already agreed to take back all waste.
Enamul Haque, another ruling party lawmaker, said 33 countries have 475 nuclear plants and are producing 3.55 lakh megawatt of electricity.
"Many problems will be resolved once we are able to address power crisis by setting up nuclear power plant," AL MP Imajuddin Pramanik observed.
In 1964 Bangladesh planned to install nuclear power station. About 259.9 acres of land was acquired for the project in Ruppur, while a draft was also signed with Canada at that time.
International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) in 2007 allowed Bangladesh and seven other developing nations to install nuclear power plants. Russia, France, South Korea, China and Pakistan offered help to develop the infrastructure.
Under the current plan, two nuclear units with a capacity of 1,000 megawatt will be installed at Ruppur in Pabna against the backdrop of dwindling reserve of natural gas, which now accounts for 90 percent of electricity generated in the country.
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