Build 'ecosystem' before nuclear power rollout

Yury Sokolov

Bangladesh needs to develop skilled manpower, management system and relevant laws in preparation for the country's first nuclear power plant, a Russian atomic energy specialist said.
“It would be at least seven years before your first nuclear power plant goes into operation. In that time, you must develop the infrastructure and competence to run it,” said Yury Sokolov, vice-president of Rusatom Overseas, an entity promoting Russian nuclear technology on the global stage.
He was recently in Dhaka leading a delegation from Rusatom Overseas, during which he sat down with The Daily Star for an interview.
“By nuclear infrastructure, I do not mean roads, transportation costs or nuclear power plants, but an ecosystem to support the national nuclear power programme. This includes the capacity of your decision-makers to develop the programme in accordance with international understanding.”
“Infrastructure also means development of national legislation for nuclear power activity. It can be a set of different regulations,” he said.
Another important element, he said, is the ability to deftly navigate during cases of emergency and how to prevent it altogether.
“The waste management strategy is also a vital and a comprehensive national strategy is needed for it,” said Sokolov, also a former deputy director general of International Atomic Energy Agency.
He suggested developing appropriate management skills in the organisations responsible for nuclear power implementation.
“You have to prepare the staff who can support your national nuclear power programme. This staff would not only be for the nuclear power programme, but also for your regulatory body and the universities that are providing education to your people in nuclear area.”
For Sokolov, stakeholders are equally important and suggested building confidence about the nuclear plant plan, especially among the youth and the mid-aged demographic.
“These are the elements of infrastructure that are important for successful nuclear power programme.”
Bangladesh has made good progress in recent years but it should adopt appropriate planning for the next seven years to successfully build the nuclear plant, he said.
About safety of VVER-1000 reactor Bangladesh chose for Roopppur, Sokolov claimed it has enough safety applications.
Asked that many countries cancelled construction of the model on safety grounds, he claimed only one country did so.
He said the customer country is obliged to manage nuclear waste.
The 1000-mw reactor is estimated to cost $2 billion to set up, but Sokolov said there is a possibility of the costs rising in future if there is a delay in construction and inflation.