Bangladesh inked on Tuesday a nuclear fuel supply agreement with Russia for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project to run the plant over the period of its lifetime.
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), the implementing agency of the RNPP project, signed the contract with the Russian state-owned nuclear fuel firm TVEL Joint Stock Company at a function at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city.
Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman was present at the function as the chief.
Russian Ambassador Alexander I Ignatov, Principal Coordinator of SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Affairs Abul Kalam Azad, Science and Technology Secretary Anwar Hossain and BAEC chairman Mahbubul Haque also spoke on the occasion.
As per the agreement signed with TVEL, the Russian firm will supply fuel for the 'entire lifetime' of the 2,400 MW RNPP project, having two 1200 MW units each.
Each unit of the power plants will have to reload one-third of the total required nuclear fuels in every 18 months and the first, second and third reload will be provided by the Russian firm free of cost.
Each reloading of nuclear fuel will cost $62 million (Tk 5.0 billion).
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Osman repeatedly urged journalists not to report anything that could be harmful to the project.
"Please don't write any report that can be harmful to the RNPP project," he said.
The call from the minister, however, came against the backdrop of the allegation of a recent financial scam at the civil construction works of the RNPP project where the probe committees found alleged involvement of 34 government officials in procuring furniture and other household items.
Bangladesh will source nuclear fuel from Russia, the manufacturer of the RNPP, to ensure future security, the minister said.
This is a globally-recognised practice of sourcing nuclear fuel from the manufacturer, he clarified. Besides, to ensure future security 'core catcher', a modern technology is being added there, he said.
It will help check any sort of radiation leakage, if any accident occurs unfortunately in any way, he added.
"Neighbouring India is also applying the same Russian technology in building nuclear power plants there," said Mr Osman, adding, "It has built confidence in us."
Indian experts are also involved with the RNPP project. Experts from International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) are monitoring the works of the RNPP project, he said.
Azizjst@yahoo.com