Second nuclear power plant likely in Barishal division
The work of selecting the location of the second nuclear power plant is going on very speedily. A total of five sites are being pre-surveyed, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Anwar Hossain said.
He confirmed this information in an exclusive discussion with barta24.Com at his office in the Secretariat on Monday (Jan. 20).
Anwar Hossain said environment, neighborhood, economic and other surveys were being conducted on a total of five places. All places are in Barishal, Barguna and Patuakhali areas. The Prime Minister wants the second nuclear power plant to be built within the Barishal division.
Replying to a question, he said, we want to keep the land ready. When the first unit of the Ruppur power plant will go to production, we want to start the work. Then some of our most skilled people will come out. With whom the Ruppur nuclear power plant is moving forward to give the final result. We are hoping that the Ruppur power plant will be able to come into production within the stipulated time.
Despite high-risk and high-tech, nuclear power is considered as most affordable. Due to Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents, this technology has been going through a lot of controversy. Work on the first project is underway with technical support from the Russian Federation in Ruppur, Pabna. The target for generating 2,000 MW of electricity has been set from here. The first unit is expected to come into production in 2023 The second unit will come into production within next few months of the first unit.
The technical assistance provider Rosatom (Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation) has claimed that the power plant is being set up with the latest VVR technology. There is no risk as it has five levels of security.
There has been some confusion and controversy over nuclear waste management. Ministry sources said that the waste of Ruppur will be returned to Russia. However, it is propaganda that the Russians do not want. If the result is that Rosatom can apply to all the places in the world where the power plant is being built. So they are against the campaign. However, Rosatom has promised Bangladesh for taking back the waste.
Minister of Science and Technology, Architect Yafes Osman, declined to comment on the issue of waste returns. The minister told barta24.com, "I want to assure the countrymen that there is nothing to worry about, everything is going well."
"I've seen the waste management in Russia, it's not a high tech matter," he said. The waste is kept in a container at a certain depth below the ground. 90 percent of the waste is used as energy later on. There will come a time when our children will ask why we will send this valuable resource abroad. We will save.
There are 449 nuclear power plants in 30 countries in the world. 173 new power plants will come into operation by 2025. Of these ongoing projects, 30 countries will enter the nuclear power world as a new country.
There are 21 nuclear power plants in India. Six are under construction and 24 are under planning. India has set a target of generating 27,480 MW and 63000 MW of nuclear power by 2024 and 2052 respectively. There are currently 30 nuclear power plants in China. Work on 24 power plants is in progress.