When nuclear power is a viable energy option
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Shahiduzzaman Khan
BANGLADESH is among the eight least developed countries (LDCs) that have been given the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approval for setting up a nuclear power plant by 2050. Most of the Bangladeshis are happy to know the decision. Among the existing important nuclear facilities in Bangladesh a three megawatt (MW) 'Triga Mark' research reactor is in operation at the Atomic Energy Research Centre at Savar for carrying out research and development activities and production of certain short-lived radioisotopes.
With power-generating capacity of the Kaptai hydroelectric plant coming to its lowest ebb due to lesser water velocity, cost of fuel for other thermal power plants skyrocketing and other alternative power sources like those driven by wind power not feasible in our climate, news of the commissioning of a nuclear power plant has opened a new window of opportunities for Bangladesh.
Given the country's energy predicaments and the government's sincerity in resolving the crisis, it is expected that the first nuclear power plant in Ruppur will be commissioned within a few years on top priority basis though such a long-term project entails huge costs and meticulous planning. The plant will be a new addition to 435 nuclear power reactors already operating in 31 countries.
A nuclear power plant involves multi-billion dollar investments for construction and maintenance though the fuel required for such a plant is very cheap compared to costly fossil fuel or gas required by conventional power plants. In commissioning the Bangladesh plant, a South Korean company -- Daewoo Engineering -- has expressed its desire to provide fund and technology to Bangladesh. The company, that has extensive experiences in installing nuclear power plant in many countries across the globe, placed the proposal to the Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technology about a month ago. The Daewoo Engineering will provide 70 per cent of the total cost for installing the nuclear power plant in Bangladesh apart from supplying the required technology. Currently, South Korea meets 45 per cent of its electricity needs from nuclear power and the share would continue to rise.
The first commercial nuclear power plant was built in 1954. Since then, nuclear power reactors have grown fast and about 390 of them were built until 1986. Oil crisis due to Arab Israel war in 1973 had a significant effect on the construction of nuclear power plants worldwide. As of 2004, nuclear power provides 6.5 per cent of the world's energy and 15.7 per cent of the world's electricity. The US, France and Japan together account for 57 per cent of all nuclear generated electricity.
South Korea has so far developed 1000 megawatt (MW) Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant. The installation cost of a nuclear power plant is around US$ 1.5 million per megawatt (MW) whereas it is $1.0 million for one MW gas-fired combined cycle. 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.
Over the course of the year, nuclear power supplied 16 per cent 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.
A number of private sector nuclear power plants are operating in California and other part of the Unites of America. Although nuclear power plants require high capital expenditures but their operating costs are very low like those of hydropower plans. It also requires additional investments to enhance the safety factors for both plant and equipment as well as heavy constructions. A nuclear power plant may have, now, an average operating cost of about two cent per kwh, while capital cost may range from $700,000 to $800,000 per MW. The average total investment cost of a hydropower plant may stand over $1.0 million per MW. And the capital cost for the safety and environment protection of a hydropower plant is quite high compared to that of a nuclear power plant.
However, nine more reactors were under construction in India, 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 4.0-5.0 per cent of the electricity supply.
An electricity-hungry-country, Bangladesh has so far failed to generate adequate power from conventional sources to meet its domestic and industrial needs. During the immediate-past BNP-led 4-party alliance government, the generation of electricity could not be raised, excepting only Tongi power plant. This plant has also failed to add power to the national grid due to mechanical trouble. Power generation failed to grow in tandem with the industrial growth.
Bangladesh sought soft loans from China to implement the long-awaited Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP) at Ishwardi in Pabna under a framework agreement signed between the two governments on April 7, 2005 for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Bangladesh. To mitigate the severe power crisis in the country, establishment of the RNPP was seen highly essential. The project was first undertaken in 1961 in view of the growing need for electricity against inadequate supply. Before the liberation of Bangladesh, companies from Belgium, Canada, the USA, the USSR, the UK and Switzerland had submitted proposals and established its techno-economic viability through a number of feasibility studies. The government also acquired 105.30 and 12.15 hectares of lands for the plant and residential complex respectively during the time. But the project could not be implemented due to the then Pakistan government's reluctance, and the Canadian nuclear plant, originally proposed for Rooppur, was implemented in Karachi.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) was constituted in 1973 soon after liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. But it failed to move forward due to lack of a political decision as well as the required fund, except having one operating research reactor at Savar. With the recent approval of the IAEA, Bangladesh looks forward to generate power through nuclear reactor. But the problem-issues with the disposal of nuclear wastes in the power plant still remain the most critical area on the way to develop such plants. Technological advancements have already brought costs of the handling, transportation and dumping of nuclear power plant wastes within reasonable scale. But the burial and dumping caves and cages are needed to be built and preserved under the guaranteed process. Waste leakages during transportation cannot be accepted under any circumstances. These are, however, no more difficult to organise, and adequate money could be allocated even within very low operating costs of nuclear power plants.
Against all these scenarios, the main barrier to development of projects like nuclear power plants is likely to be lack of human resources. But right planning and initiatives to gather engineers, scientists, experts of Bangladeshi and sub-continental origins working abroad, may be the first step to make the endeavour successful. The country has the potential and meritorious people both at home and abroad. What is needed is to get close to them and motivate them to be adequately trained up to take command of the plants.
BANGLADESH is among the eight least developed countries (LDCs) that have been given the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approval for setting up a nuclear power plant by 2050. Most of the Bangladeshis are happy to know the decision. Among the existing important nuclear facilities in Bangladesh a three megawatt (MW) 'Triga Mark' research reactor is in operation at the Atomic Energy Research Centre at Savar for carrying out research and development activities and production of certain short-lived radioisotopes.
With power-generating capacity of the Kaptai hydroelectric plant coming to its lowest ebb due to lesser water velocity, cost of fuel for other thermal power plants skyrocketing and other alternative power sources like those driven by wind power not feasible in our climate, news of the commissioning of a nuclear power plant has opened a new window of opportunities for Bangladesh.
Given the country's energy predicaments and the government's sincerity in resolving the crisis, it is expected that the first nuclear power plant in Ruppur will be commissioned within a few years on top priority basis though such a long-term project entails huge costs and meticulous planning. The plant will be a new addition to 435 nuclear power reactors already operating in 31 countries.
A nuclear power plant involves multi-billion dollar investments for construction and maintenance though the fuel required for such a plant is very cheap compared to costly fossil fuel or gas required by conventional power plants. In commissioning the Bangladesh plant, a South Korean company -- Daewoo Engineering -- has expressed its desire to provide fund and technology to Bangladesh. The company, that has extensive experiences in installing nuclear power plant in many countries across the globe, placed the proposal to the Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technology about a month ago. The Daewoo Engineering will provide 70 per cent of the total cost for installing the nuclear power plant in Bangladesh apart from supplying the required technology. Currently, South Korea meets 45 per cent of its electricity needs from nuclear power and the share would continue to rise.
The first commercial nuclear power plant was built in 1954. Since then, nuclear power reactors have grown fast and about 390 of them were built until 1986. Oil crisis due to Arab Israel war in 1973 had a significant effect on the construction of nuclear power plants worldwide. As of 2004, nuclear power provides 6.5 per cent of the world's energy and 15.7 per cent of the world's electricity. The US, France and Japan together account for 57 per cent of all nuclear generated electricity.
South Korea has so far developed 1000 megawatt (MW) Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant. The installation cost of a nuclear power plant is around US$ 1.5 million per megawatt (MW) whereas it is $1.0 million for one MW gas-fired combined cycle. 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.
Over the course of the year, nuclear power supplied 16 per cent 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.
A number of private sector nuclear power plants are operating in California and other part of the Unites of America. Although nuclear power plants require high capital expenditures but their operating costs are very low like those of hydropower plans. It also requires additional investments to enhance the safety factors for both plant and equipment as well as heavy constructions. A nuclear power plant may have, now, an average operating cost of about two cent per kwh, while capital cost may range from $700,000 to $800,000 per MW. The average total investment cost of a hydropower plant may stand over $1.0 million per MW. And the capital cost for the safety and environment protection of a hydropower plant is quite high compared to that of a nuclear power plant.
However, nine more reactors were under construction in India, 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 4.0-5.0 per cent of the electricity supply.
An electricity-hungry-country, Bangladesh has so far failed to generate adequate power from conventional sources to meet its domestic and industrial needs. During the immediate-past BNP-led 4-party alliance government, the generation of electricity could not be raised, excepting only Tongi power plant. This plant has also failed to add power to the national grid due to mechanical trouble. Power generation failed to grow in tandem with the industrial growth.
Bangladesh sought soft loans from China to implement the long-awaited Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP) at Ishwardi in Pabna under a framework agreement signed between the two governments on April 7, 2005 for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Bangladesh. To mitigate the severe power crisis in the country, establishment of the RNPP was seen highly essential. The project was first undertaken in 1961 in view of the growing need for electricity against inadequate supply. Before the liberation of Bangladesh, companies from Belgium, Canada, the USA, the USSR, the UK and Switzerland had submitted proposals and established its techno-economic viability through a number of feasibility studies. The government also acquired 105.30 and 12.15 hectares of lands for the plant and residential complex respectively during the time. But the project could not be implemented due to the then Pakistan government's reluctance, and the Canadian nuclear plant, originally proposed for Rooppur, was implemented in Karachi.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) was constituted in 1973 soon after liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. But it failed to move forward due to lack of a political decision as well as the required fund, except having one operating research reactor at Savar. With the recent approval of the IAEA, Bangladesh looks forward to generate power through nuclear reactor. But the problem-issues with the disposal of nuclear wastes in the power plant still remain the most critical area on the way to develop such plants. Technological advancements have already brought costs of the handling, transportation and dumping of nuclear power plant wastes within reasonable scale. But the burial and dumping caves and cages are needed to be built and preserved under the guaranteed process. Waste leakages during transportation cannot be accepted under any circumstances. These are, however, no more difficult to organise, and adequate money could be allocated even within very low operating costs of nuclear power plants.
Against all these scenarios, the main barrier to development of projects like nuclear power plants is likely to be lack of human resources. But right planning and initiatives to gather engineers, scientists, experts of Bangladeshi and sub-continental origins working abroad, may be the first step to make the endeavour successful. The country has the potential and meritorious people both at home and abroad. What is needed is to get close to them and motivate them to be adequately trained up to take command of the plants.