The government\'s New Year gift to the people

During this holiday season, a couple of Bangladesh media reports in regard to a recent interfaith marriage with tacky titles such as Shakilar jibone Robir uday meaning singer Shakila Zafar's remarriage to an Indian poet named Robi must not generate huge public debates over other important goings-on. Shakila seems to think that her marriage (which is her personal choice) should be a matter of public interest because she has been complaining that media has hugely failed to congratulate her. She seems to be conflicted about her mixed-religion marriage by raising a question, aamra udar kobe hobo?
Today, instead of focusing on the success stories about how such marriages make society more integrated and more tolerant, I would rather rejoice the awesome news of Bangladesh signing the much-awaited landmark $12.65 billion (equivalent to 1.01 trillion taka) nuclear power plant deal with Russia.
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission signed an agreement with Russia this past Friday, in Dhaka's Sonargaon Hotel, to set up two nuclear power plants, each with "1,200 MW capacity." The construction work will begin early 2016 at Rooppur, in Pabna district. "Russia will finance up to 90 per cent of the total cost as credit with an interest rate of Libor plus 1.75 per cent." The first power plant is expected to begin operating by 2022 and the second one by 2023. Bangladesh will have to clear the entire loan amount within a span of 28 years with a 10-year grace period.
Undoubtedly, these two new power plants will be a means to an end - improving life of the masses. The clean burning fuel without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a better choice than the other carbon-emitting methods making electricity today.
To enter the modern era of science and technology, the government was finally able to put the deal on the table for Russia to come to Bangladesh's aid, to keep up with the demand of burning fuel. This has been an ambition since the Pakistan era (1961-) that did  not materialised, until now.
Such endeavours by the government will play a dominant role in Bangladesh's economic growth. By 2021, Bangladesh will transform itself into a middle-income country, and will rid itself of the stigma that Third World's overall development depends on foreign aid, and the occasional direct investment. To finance the nuclear power plant projects, Bangladesh is not taking a handout from Russia; the money (90 per cent) is a loan, which will be paid in full.
It is not a trivial accomplishment to join the ranks of nations with nuclear power plants, with the likes of India, Pakistan and China in our neighbourhood. It demonstrates a certain level of knowledge and competence in things nuclear, both theoretical and practical. It also points to a growing confidence, based on the expectation that in another decade, indigenous scientists and engineers will take over the day-to-day running of these power plant(s).
Currently, natural gas and oil fuel most of the electricity-producing plants in Bangladesh. Natural gas is being depleted quite rapidly. With the demand for electricity growing fast, the 30 per cent of the population without electricity today are demanding a share of this resource. The remaining 70 per cent also want a source that is free of the frequent interruptions ('load-shedding') that used to be a part of life a few years ago. Nuclear power plants, if operated safely, will provide at least 20 per cent of the electricity when functional. This share can only grow, barring accidents, God forbid.
Nuclear accidents in a populous nation such as Bangladesh entail great risks. One only has to look at the example of the Three Mile Island disaster in the USA in 1979, Chernobyl meltdown in Russia in 1986, or more recently, of Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. In 2011, "following a major earthquake, a 15-metre Tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima reactors, causing a nuclear accident." Three of the nuclear cores melted in the first three days which resulted in high radioactive release.
In addition to natural disaster which prompted such an accident, there are great risks associated with the 'radioactive waste', a byproduct of the nuclear reaction that will, fortunately, be carried away and then disposed of by Rosatom (Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation) outside of Bangladesh.
Since the Chernobyl accident, the Russians have become especially cautious in operating the nuclear power plants. Their engineers and technical support have become more sophisticated in avoiding radiation contamination in case of a meltdown. The Chernobyl reactor was an old Soviet era nuclear reactor whereas the ones that would be built in Rooppur will be constructed using the latest and risk-free design. On top of that Russia is going to dispose all the radioactive waste by taking it away from Bangladesh in containers. Thus the risk due to the waste to people's health would be minimal.
Without Russia's willingness and active participation the nuclear waste may otherwise fester for years, sometimes thousands of years, depending on the half-life of the nuclear product(s).
No nation has come up with a viable solution for this long lasting radioactive waste, not even the USA where the Yucca Mountain repository has been a source of never-ending battles between the US Congress and the several administrations, including that of Obama. It is better and safer for Bangladesh that Russia deals with the risks and meanwhile Bangladesh will benefit from being free of this waste.
'Mission 2021' is the buzzword that is tossed around when the Bangladesh Government speaks of its developmental goals for the next few years. Sufficiency in electricity generation for all its 160 million people is a big part of it. All the other components, such as Broadband growth, Effective Governance, Elimination of poverty, and Sound infrastructure depend on the supply of affordable electricity all the time to the entire population. These two nuclear plants will thus be an integral part to achieving this 'Mission 2021' goal of the Hasina administration.
Happy New Year to all the readers!
The writer is a freelance contributor.
Zeenat Khan
[email protected]