B'desh seeks Russian help to build nuclear power plant
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh's emergency government has sought
Russian assistance to build a nuclear power plant to meet electricity
shortages that have sparked riots and hit the country's economy.
Foreign minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury raised the issue with
Russian authorities during his visit last week to Moscow, foreign
ministry spokesman Nazmul Qaonine said on Monday.
"We have formally expressed our interest to Russia that we want their
technology to set up a nuclear plant for generating power for peaceful
uses," Qaonine said.
"Dr. Chowdhury has held detailed discussions with the Russian deputy
minister for energy, Ivan Materver, on possible Russian cooperation in
setting up a nuclear power plant. And Russia is positive (toward giving
assistance)," he added. The cooperation was sought as Bangladesh's gas
reserve is fast depleting, forcing the country to look for alternative
source of energy, he said.
Last year Bangladesh approved its first nuclear power police and
earlier this year received approval from the International Atomic Energy
Commission, the global nuclear watchdog, to set up a nuclear power plant
for peaceful use.
The installation would be the first nuclear power plant in the
Muslim-majority nation of 140 million people.
The country is already a signatory to the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty and Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
Bangladesh faces massive electricity shortages that have hit its
booming textile industry. It is capable of generating 3,000 megawatts at
peak times - 2,000 megawatts short of actual demand.
Last year, violence over power cuts in a northern Bangladesh town
left at least 20 people dead in clashes between police and farmers who
had demanded increased power supply for irrigation.
The country's military-backed government, which took over in January
after emergency rule was imposed and elections cancelled over
vote-rigging allegations, has made tackling the power crisis a top
priority.
The World Bank in July last year estimated that Bangladesh needed 10
billion dollars in investment to improve its electricity supply over the
next decade.
There was no immediate estimate of the cost of constructing such a
plant.
Dhaka, Monday, AFP |
