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Rooppur deal in March

[DamonBlack]

 
 
 
 

Tue, Jan 18th, 2011 8:59 pm BdST

Dhaka, Jan 18 (bdnews24.com) —The government may sign the final agreement with Russia on implementing the 2,000 mega watt Rooppur nuclear power plant in March this year, says a parliamentary watchdog chief. 
Dabirul Islam, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology ministry, on Tuesday told reporters that construction on the proposed nuclear power plants would start in 2012 and complete in four-five years. 
This disclosure indicates that the two nuclear plants, each having 1000 mega watts of capacity, are unlikely to be completed during the tenure of the present Awami League government. 
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament placed a plan of action for producing upto 10,000 mega watts of electricity by the end of her mandated tenure in office. 
Dabirul Islam talked to the press while highlighting the performance of the ministry as the government completed two years in office. 
"Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will ink the agreement on implementing the nuclear power plant during her upcoming Russia tour by March this year," Islam told reporters quoting the ministry officials. 
He said the government would mobilise necessary funds to implement the nuclear project in northern district of Pabna. "We, the standing committee, is fully convinced that the nuclear power plant will be set up as per the plan," he said. 
Echoing the chairman, Shahriar Alam, another committee member, told bdnews24.com, "Construction of physical structure of the nuclear plant would start some time in 2012. It will take four to five years to complete." 
The Awami League government in its election manifesto pledged to implement the power plant to meet the huge demand of electricity in the country. 
Dabirul Islam, who visited Russia to take part in the discussion with the Russian officials, was a former leader of the Russian-backed Communist Party of Bangladesh. 
The government on April 22 last year formed a committee to decide the technical aspects of the plant. The committee awaits approval of the cabinet committee headed by the prime minister. 
Atomic Energy Commission of Bangladesh and Russia's Rosatom on May 13, 2009 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on peaceful use of nuclear energy in Bangladesh. 
Director general of Russian State Atomic Energy Cooperation (Rosatom) Sergey V Kirienko on June 2010 led a Russian delegation to Bangladesh and had talks on implementing the Rooppur plant in Pabna. 
On Aug 21 to 28, a Bangladesh delegation, headed by the secretary, visited Russia to finalise a draft action plan for the nuclear plant. The two governments are in the way of implementing the action plan. 
The director general of International Atomic Energy Agency on Dec 13 to 14 last year came to Bangladesh and assured prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the state minister for science and technology of providing all possible assistance in this regard. 
In line with the requirement of IAEA, Bangladesh parliament on Dec 9 last year adopted a resolution for implementing the Rooppur power plant, which has been in the process of implementation since 1960s.