BG to set up mini nuclear power plant

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

BG to set up mini nuclear power plant
Posted on April 24, 2011



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BG to set up mini nuclear power plant

Signs four agreements with US company

BG Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan shaking hand with NIC International Inc. President Emily Robert Drwila after signing MoUs on four projects. East West Media Group Limited Chairman Mostafa Kamal Mohiuddin (extreme left) and the US Embassy’s political and economic counsellor John F Danilowic are also seen. SUN PHOTO

Staff Correspondent

Bashundhara Group has joined hands with a US company to set up the country’s first private sector nuclear power plant to help national efforts to resolve the electricity shortfall.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between Bashundhara Group and globally reputed NIC International Inc. in the city on Sunday.

The mini nuclear power plant is expected to generate 20 megawatt electricity, company officials told the signing ceremony at the conference hall of East-West Media Group Ltd in the city’s Bashundhara residential area.

The country’s leading entrepreneur and BG Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and NIC Inc, President Emily Robert Drwila signed the comprehensive MoU that involves three other deals.

Bashundhara Group, under an umbrella deal, will also assemble laptop computers, net-book computers, touchpad, and electronic reader targeting the export market after meeting domestic demands.

In all, the BG is going to invest in four projects, all of which are aimed at bringing ultimate benefits to the people of the country, BG chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan said.

He mentioned that the mini nuclear plant would not meet the demand of electricity ‘but will surely set an example for other entrepreneurs to come up with similar initiatives’.

The commissioning of the nuclear power plant project will start soon, subject to approval from the governments of Bangladesh and the United States, the function was told.

The plant is expected to be set up in Manikganj and go into operation within February next year.

Akbar Sobhan said the investment projects would not only expedite the country’s digitisation process but also build national image abroad beside opening gateway for earning foreign exchange.

He thanked the US diplomats in Dhaka for lending their supports to the Bashundhara Group.

The agreement would help increase two-way trade between Bangladesh and the USA, the BG chairman said. Adequate employment opportunities will also be created through these projects for the local people, he added.

Intravenous solution and IV solution transfusion administration set factories will be established under a twin-scheme being undertaken by the two companies. The two units are designed as export-oriented enterprises.

Mostafa Kamal Mohiuddin, Chairman of East West Media Group Limited, said this type of plant would be suitable for addressing strategic needs of electricity as implementation of such a project takes only six to nine months.

“Tropical weather, dense population and scarcity of isolated land are also to be taken into account for medium and large scale nuclear power plant,” he said.

Mohiuddin noted that it is encouraging for Bangladeshis that laptop computers and electronic devices of high demand would be produced in Bangladesh and hit the mainstream Western market.

Appreciating the contribution of Ambassador James F Moriarty and his colleagues to striking the deals, the EWMGL Chairman said this collaboration is not only meant for business but also a symbol of friendly relations between the two countries.

John F Danilowic, political and economic counsellor of the US Embassy in Dhaka, said the technology devices which would be manufactured in the joint venture units would be exported to the USA with permission from the US government.

Chief adviser to BG Chairman Mahaboob Morshed Hasnu, Deputy Managing Directors of BG Mostafizur Rahman and Abul Kalam Azad, Media Adviser to East West Media Group Ltd Abu Tayeb, Editor of daily sun Prof Dr Sayed Anwar Husain, Editor of Kaler Kantho Abed Khan, Editor of Bangladesh Protidin Sahjahan Sardar and other high officials of both the companies were present at the signing ceremony.

 

[TopCat]

That is what I am talking about. Bashundara Group is such a company has the capacity to implement and will. We need these companies to go high tech who has money.

 

[TopCat]

I am just curious. Does current law has the provision for private companies to go NUCLEAR?

 

[Skies]

“Tropical weather, dense population and scarcity of isolated land are also to be taken into account for medium and large scale nuclear power plant,” he said.

Great news but how much area is needed to set up such plant? Does it take large area? We have shortage of land......and if we want set up lots of mini plants..........then.....................little probs

 

[TopCat]

How much area is needed to set up such plant? Does it take large area?

The plant itself does not take much area but must have a exclusion zone and must have enough water nearby.

 

[Skies]

Then we will have to calculate aggregated loss benefit ratio, only if we want to set up many plants, not for 4 of 5 plants in Dhaka. Need to calculate blockage of lands to produce per 20 MW. Or we can plant wooden trees in those blockage land. That can be proper use of blockage land.

 

[TopCat]

Then we will have to calculate aggregated lost benefit ratio, only if we want to set up many plants, not for 4 of 5 plants in Dhaka. Need to calculate blockage of lands to produce per 20 MW.

Well small scale nuclear plants are not feasible but not sure about the technology that BG will be buying. US has some ashtonishing technological know how in nuclear field and I am sure they are offering something which are safe and can be limited with lower land use. We have to wait and see. NOT every country can buy USA nuclear technologies.

 

[integra]

Few years ago there were some journals published regarding bathtub sized mini nuclear plants powering an apartment high rise building. There were experiments and successful execution of power transfer. Didn know those are in production line these days, the world rotates fast as it seems.

 

[eastwatch]

That is what I am talking about. Bashundara Group is such a company has the capacity to implement and will. We need these companies to go high tech who has money.

This company is so big and so rich that it can build another Padma bridge at Aricha-Paturia with its own money, which they can get back by taking tolls. Anyway, the nuclear power plant is a welcome move.

 

[TopCat]

Few years ago there were some journals published regarding bathtub sized mini nuclear plants powering an apartment high rise building. There were experiments and successful execution of power transfer. Didn know those are in production line these days, the world rotates fast as it seems.

If a submarine can be powered by nuclear reactor, why cant it be to a apartment building.

 

[Zabaniyah]

It is only an MoU. This deal seems promising though.

 

[Zabaniyah]

If a submarine can be powered by nuclear reactor, why cant it be to a apartment building.

Maintaining a nuclear reactor is no child's play. If some dumbass screws up, and we are dead. Especially in a country like Bangladesh. But I am pretty confident that nuclear power will prosper in the country.

We need big nuclear reactors, not many small ones. If there are many small ones, it becomes difficult to administer the safety procedures. People already try to steal fiber optic cables in various streets filled with apartments. Imagine some dumbass trying to steal uranium.

Nuclear power is inevitable in Bangladesh since it is a small country with a very high population. If the country is to grow, so must its capability to meet the energy demand. BUT, we have to be very careful.

 

[TopCat]

Maintaining a nuclear reactor is no child's play. If some dumbass screws up, and we are dead. Especially in a country like Bangladesh. But I am pretty confident that nuclear power will prosper in the country.

We need big nuclear reactors, not many small ones. If there are many small ones, it becomes difficult to administer the safety procedures. People already try to steal fiber optic cables in various streets filled with apartments. Imagine some dumbass trying to steal uranium.

Nuclear power is inevitable in Bangladesh since it is a small country with a very high population. If the country is to grow, so must its capability to meet the energy demand. BUT, we have to be very careful.

Well, nuclear reactor is not a nuclear bomb which many people comprehend. Still a radiation danger is there but nobody going to die out of BLAST. Nuclear technology is evolving very fast and the third generation reactors are very very safe. A US company has to meet all the regulation of USA to meet its safety standard an I am pretty confident that we will be just fine.

 

[damiendehorn]

I think this is the type of reactors, they have in mind. SSTAR

 

[Zabaniyah]

Well, nuclear reactor is not a nuclear bomb which many people comprehend. Still a radiation danger is there but nobody going to die out of BLAST. Nuclear technology is evolving very fast and the third generation reactors are very very safe. A US company has to meet all the regulation of USA to meet its safety standard an I am pretty confident that we will be just fine.

I didn't say that it is a nuclear bomb. There is the possibility of radiation hazard in case some idiot screws up. Then, there was the nuclear disaster in Japan as a result of the earthquake. Bangladesh is an earthquake prone zone, a small country and highly populated.

My point is that we have to be very careful about the nuclear power issue. Each and every factor must be taken into account before setting up any nuclear reactor, and this requires government help. No stone can be left unturned.