Dhaka, Moscow finalise N-power plant action plan
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Dhaka and Moscow have finalised a joint "action plan" for developing the proposed 2000 MW nuclear power plant project in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Official sources said that after thorough discussion on a draft action plan in the 4-day joint working group meeting held in Moscow from November 10, both sides agreed to accept it.
"The joint working group has accepted the action plan and both sides decided to give their final nod to it," a member of the joint working group from the Bangladesh side told the news agency.
However, the member of the working group, who was a member of the Bangladesh team, wished not to be named as he is not authorised to speak on the issue.
Russia and Bangladesh signed an agreement in November 2011 under which Russia's state nuclear energy corporation - Rosatom - will build and operate Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant at Ishwardi in Pabna having two units, each with 1,000 MW capacity.
A five-member Bangladesh delegation, led by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Rabindranath Roy Chowdhury, participated in the joint working group meeting in Moscow. Sources said the Bangladesh-Russia Joint Working Group on Nuclear Infrastructure discussed various issues, particularly the pre-infrastructure compliance that is required to be met by Bangladesh to start the physical work for the mega project.
"There are 19 such prerequisites that need to be done by Bangladesh as per set rules of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)," said the source.
The next joint working group meeting will be held in Dhaka within next six months as part of the understanding to hold its meeting in every six months at an alternative venue--in Dhaka or in Moscow.
A report on the current status of nuclear industry in Bangladesh and the country's expected support from Russia for the sector was presented in the meeting by the Bangladesh delegation.
Russia also made several presentations on Quality Assurance, Budgeting and Cost Management, Preparation of General Contract, and Project Management in Implementing NPP Constructions.S