Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander A Nikolaev said Sunday that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is safe for Bangladesh saying those who are opposing its construction have a wrong perception, reports UNB.
"I must tell you the reactor which is designed for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant isn't just safe enough, but is at least 10 times safer than Fukushima (Nuclear power plant) one," he told a country lecture on 'Russia in Modern International Policy' in the city.
The envoy also said Russia successfully completed a 'huge' nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran just two years ago and has now been constructing more than 30 nuclear power plants with the similar design in many countries. "It's sustainable not only against the earthquake but also against tsunami."
The Russian diplomat came up with the remarks when he was asked whether Russia would take the responsibility if Fukushima nuclear plant disaster-like tragedy takes place in Bangladesh.
Under an agreement with the government, Russia's state-owned nuclear power operator, Rosatom, will construct two units of the Rooppur NPP, each having 1,000 MW capacities.
Apparently expressing displeasure over German Ambassador Dr Albrecht Conze's recent remark on Roopur power plant, Nikolaev said he does not know who told him (German envoy) about that and he (Russian envoy) could not understand what is the reason behind such position.
On March 16, Conze expressed concern over the government's recent decision to construct a coal-fired power plant not far from the Sundarbarns and a nuclear power plant near Pabna and said energy generation needs to take environmental risks into account.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) arranged the fifth round country lecture at its auditorium with its Chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmad in the chair. BIISS Director General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.
On bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Russia, Nikolaev said the two countries have the potential to increase the trade volume to US$ 1 billion which currently exceeds US$ 700 million.
He said the experience of more than four decades proves that there is nothing impossible in the areas of economic cooperation. "Everything is possible. I would like to stress it."
The diplomat listed industrial joint ventures, offshore exploration and extraction, different types of joint ventures in other areas, collaboration in LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and compressed gas as the areas for future cooperation.
Responding to a question on defence purchase deal between Bangladesh-Russia, the envoy said, "Yes, it was an intergovernmental agreement signed on the 15th January 2013 regarding Russia's state loan to Bangladesh for military cargo aircraft purchase. That's true."
He said both sides have completed placing order for purchasing military cargo aircraft including combat aircraft.
