IAEA allows Bangladesh to install nuclear power plant
Monday, 25 June 2007
M Azizur Rahman
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has decided to allow Bangladesh to install nuclear power reactor.
Energy and Power Adviser Tapan Chowdhury disclosed this Sunday while talking to a group of journalists at his office in the secretariat.
"Bangladesh is among eight least developed countries (LDCs) that have been given the IAEA nod for setting up nuclear power plant by 2050," the power adviser said.
He said the country has a standing offer from South Korea to install such a plant.
Tapan Chowdhury, however, said that installation of the nuclear power plant is a long-term issue.
He also did not answer to a query whether Bangladesh will install a nuclear reactor soon or consider it later.
A two-member IAEA delegation is now visiting Bangladesh to discuss the country's nuclear energy prospects.
The IAEA delegation will attend the two-day Bangladesh Atomic Energy Council (BAEC) meeting scheduled to start today (Monday).
During the meeting, the IAEA team is expected to fix some modalities and common criteria on atomic energy use to mitigate energy scarcity in the developing countries, a senior Power Division official told the FE.
Sources said among the existing important nuclear facilities in Bangladesh a three megawatt (MW) 'Triga Mark' research reactor is in operation at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) at Savar for carrying out research and development (R&D) activities and production of certain short-lived radioisotopes.
Planning, implementation and operation of nuclear power station in Bangladesh is one of the primary objectives of the BAEC.
According to the IAEA, the total nuclear power installed worldwide by 2004 was 366 giga-watt (GW).
But the agency has projected nuclear power generation to reach 423-592 GW worldwide by 2030.
As of 2004 Asia accounted for 18 of the 26 reactors under construction and for 20 of the last 30 reactors to have been connected to the grid.
There were 440 nuclear power plants (NPPs) worldwide operating at the end of 2004.
Over the course of the year, nuclear power supplied 16% of the world's electricity.
Elsewhere in Asia, nuclear power's absolute and relative contributions are smaller, but China and India in particular plan significant expansion.
India, with 14 operating reactors at the end of 2004, got 2.8 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2004, IAEA statistics revealed.
However, nine more reactors were under construction, including 500 megawatt (MW) prototype fast breeder reactor that begun in 2004 at Kalpakkam.
India's goal is to supply 25 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050.
China, with nine operating reactors at the end of 2004, two under construction and 2.2 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power, plans expansion to 32-40 GW by 2020 for 4-5 per cent of the electricity supply.
In 2004 China's State Council formally approved at least 7 GW of new capacities beyond that already under construction.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has decided to allow Bangladesh to install nuclear power reactor.
Energy and Power Adviser Tapan Chowdhury disclosed this Sunday while talking to a group of journalists at his office in the secretariat.
"Bangladesh is among eight least developed countries (LDCs) that have been given the IAEA nod for setting up nuclear power plant by 2050," the power adviser said.
He said the country has a standing offer from South Korea to install such a plant.
Tapan Chowdhury, however, said that installation of the nuclear power plant is a long-term issue.
He also did not answer to a query whether Bangladesh will install a nuclear reactor soon or consider it later.
A two-member IAEA delegation is now visiting Bangladesh to discuss the country's nuclear energy prospects.
The IAEA delegation will attend the two-day Bangladesh Atomic Energy Council (BAEC) meeting scheduled to start today (Monday).
During the meeting, the IAEA team is expected to fix some modalities and common criteria on atomic energy use to mitigate energy scarcity in the developing countries, a senior Power Division official told the FE.
Sources said among the existing important nuclear facilities in Bangladesh a three megawatt (MW) 'Triga Mark' research reactor is in operation at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) at Savar for carrying out research and development (R&D) activities and production of certain short-lived radioisotopes.
Planning, implementation and operation of nuclear power station in Bangladesh is one of the primary objectives of the BAEC.
According to the IAEA, the total nuclear power installed worldwide by 2004 was 366 giga-watt (GW).
But the agency has projected nuclear power generation to reach 423-592 GW worldwide by 2030.
As of 2004 Asia accounted for 18 of the 26 reactors under construction and for 20 of the last 30 reactors to have been connected to the grid.
There were 440 nuclear power plants (NPPs) worldwide operating at the end of 2004.
Over the course of the year, nuclear power supplied 16% of the world's electricity.
Elsewhere in Asia, nuclear power's absolute and relative contributions are smaller, but China and India in particular plan significant expansion.
India, with 14 operating reactors at the end of 2004, got 2.8 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2004, IAEA statistics revealed.
However, nine more reactors were under construction, including 500 megawatt (MW) prototype fast breeder reactor that begun in 2004 at Kalpakkam.
India's goal is to supply 25 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050.
China, with nine operating reactors at the end of 2004, two under construction and 2.2 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power, plans expansion to 32-40 GW by 2020 for 4-5 per cent of the electricity supply.
In 2004 China's State Council formally approved at least 7 GW of new capacities beyond that already under construction.