Building a 2nd nuclear plant: PM seeks Russia’s support
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought constant support from Russia for building another nuclear power plant in Bangladesh's southern region.
"Once the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is completed, we'll go for constructing another in the southern region of the country. We need constant Russian support in this regard," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia, Alexey Likhachev, met her at her official residence Gono Bhaban.
PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said the Rosatom DG also expressed Russia's willingness to continually support Bangladesh's power sector.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining appropriate security measures in Rooppur Power Plant and asked the Rosatom DG to train Bangladeshi manpower in this regard.
She appreciated Russia for extending its help in constructing the first-ever nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister said the pandemic has slightly slowed down the country's overall development, and Bangladesh is now in the process of recovery.
She recalled with gratitude the assistance and cooperation of the then Russian Federation during Bangladesh's Liberation War and in rebuilding the war-torn country.
Alexey Likhachev highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina's strong support and guidance towards Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and said the cooperation between the two countries has entered an atomic sphere. "Bangladesh will become a nuclear energy power by 2023," he said.
Describing the present status of the project, Likhachev said, "We have taken all the technical aspects and security measures into account."
About the completion of the ongoing project, he said the timeline may be adjusted.
He said they will train Bangladeshis to run the plant and will also give attention to social development in the project area.
He said more than 20,000 Bangladeshis are working in the project while some local companies have been given various jobs on sub-contracts. "They're remarkable," he commented.
The Rosatom DG also praised and thanked the Science and Technology Ministry and Atomic Energy Commission for all-out support and cooperation.
He thanked the Health Ministry for its cooperation in vaccinating 90 percent of the Russian people working in the project.
Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry Ziaul Hasan were also present.