BAEC to recruit staff next month for Rooppur nuclear plant HRD

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To launch the first nuclear power plant by 2016, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) is set to recruit 30 to 40 staff by next month for the human resources department (HRD) of the plant as per IAEA requirements, reports BSS.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will provide a US$ 67,000 fund for HRD of the project and other need analysis study-the basic requirements to start a nuclear power project as per the IAEA guideline.
To set up a 600 to 1500 MW nuclear power plant, the government has already taken necessary steps through signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with China, Russia, USA, France and India for cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy. It has also started talks with South Korea in this regard.
"Russia was the last of the countries with whom we signed MoU. By signing this agreement, we are moving forward in implementing our election commitment to start the nuclear power project," State Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology Yeafesh Osman said.
The state minister said that it might take 4 to 5 years to implement the planned 600 to 1500 MW nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna district.
Considering the present reserve of gas, coal and other resources of energy, the revised national energy policy (2008) suggested that a successful nuclear plant be executed as other imported fuel options, like coal and oil, for power generation need substantial infrastructural and transportation facilities which require vast additional cost.
So the government opts for launching the NPP, a $ 1.5 to 2 billion project, at Rooppur in 2016. The project was conceived in 1963 and approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) in 1980.
"Now only one thing is in our mind to design and build Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant. NPP is a big financial challenge for Bangladesh but it could be overcome by managing the fund from both local and international financial sources," Dr Md Shawkat Akbar, Project Director, Rooppur Nuclear Plant, told the news agency.
According to nuclear energy experts, four things are crucial for implementing and maintaining nuclear projects. These are safety, fuel supply, waste management and plant de-commissioning.
To ensure safety, a nuclear expert said, Bangladesh should go for third generation or plus technology.