The approval by the Cabinet of the draft law for formation of an independent company, dubbed Nuclear Power Company of Bangladesh, to operate the proposed nuclear power plant at Rooppur, Pabna is a welcome step towards achieving self-sufficiency in electricity. The draft law also outlines the role of the government to run and supervise its operations. Planned to be built with third-generation technology, the nuclear power plant -- an outcome of a deal inked with Russia -- is expected to cost $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion. Bangladesh will bear 10 per cent of the cost while Russia is to provide the rest as loan. Moscow will provide all assistance for setting up the plant, including supply of the fuel and taking back of its used part and wastes. The plant, as the reports said, will be in operation for 60 years with the scope to extend its life by 20 more years.
The most significant feature of the plant is the generation of 2000 megawatts of electricity - quite a substantial amount - to be added to the national grid, when completed. Although the country's power situation has improved from what it was five years back, the supply now available is still far from adequate and fraught with many uncertainties. Continuation of the rental power plants with astronomical amounts in import bills and subsidies being borne by the state coffer has, so far, offered little in terms of a lasting solution. Given the circumstances, the best that the government could opt for was a nuclear power plant to fill in the prevailing gap and also meet the mounting demand from household, commercial and industrial users. Now that the government has gone for it, the plant is expected to live up to the demands of the power-starved economy. Also it is expected to provide the much needed respite to excessive-dependence on natural gas for power generation.
There, as many experts suggest, should not be any debate on the issue about going for such a nuclear power plant. However, concerns still remain about its sustenance and more importantly, safety. While minor slips in maintenance may cause sudden breakdowns, accidents not uncommon to such power plants may trigger disasters too frightening for a densely populated country like that of Bangladesh. Even a technologically advanced country like Japan is still reeling from the accident in its Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011. Although the draft law provides that the used fuels and wastes would be taken back by the Russian collaborator, there has to be a meticulous mechanism, as many experts feel, to continuously guard against any untoward possibility, in order to ensure that the plant remains safe from foreseeable threats. Another issue that worries such experts is whether the plant would be able to have sufficient flow of cooling water from the river Padma; availability of cooling water is considered integral to the sustenance of a nuclear power plant as well as to the environmental safekeeping. The authorities, besides keeping vigil on many technicalities, should also make sure that the required volume of cooling water is available round the year, particularly in the dry season.
Safekeeping of the nuclear power plant
FE Team | Published: May 24, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like