Rooppur Nuclear plant work likely by year-end.

[bd_4_ever]

Rooppur N-plant work likely by year-end

Dhaka, Jan 10 (bdnews24.com) – Bangladesh is all geared to foray into nuclear technology with two 1,000-megawatt nuclear plants coming up at Rooppur with Russian technology.

"The construction work is likely at the end of this year or early next year, and the work is expected to be completed in the next five years," state minister for science and technology Yeafesh Osman told bdnews24.com in an exclusive interview.

"Nuclear science is an advanced technology and not many countries in the world harness power from it," Osman said. "It will give a strong signal to the world that Bangladesh has the potential and ability to control and manage advanced technology like nuclear science," he added.

CHEAP AND GREEN

Nuclear power is cost-efficient and environment-friendly at the same time. With sources for traditional fossil fuel such as coal and oil depleting fast and the demand for electricity steadily going up, nuclear power has come up as an effective means of generating power, he observed.

"Electricity produced from 3 tonnes of coal or 2.6 tonnes of fossil fuel can be produced with only one gram of uranium," Osman said, adding that there is abundant and ensured supply of nuclear fuel.

"It is probably the only tested solution for producing cheap electricity. According to estimates, the cost of generating one unit of nuclear power is one-third of that of coal-based power. The per unit cost for us will be not more than Tk 2 as uranium cost is very nominal," the minister said.

Though the upfront cost for setting up such a plant is very high, it is recovered within 10 to 15 years of a plant's commissioning, Osman said. The plants will have a life cycle of 60 years with another 20-year extension.

Setting up of a 1,000-mw nuclear power plant entails an expenditure of $1.5 billion to $2 billion, depending on security features and technology standard.

"We are getting all necessary support from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association). We will also get expertise support once the plants are commissioned," the minister said.

He cited India's example to point out that the neighbouring country would produce 60,000 mw from nuclear power by 2030.

SAFETY FIRST

The Fukushima nuclear power plant mishap in Japan following the devastating tsunami in March 2011 has made the government up the ante on the security aspects. The most important issue for the government is "safety first and safety last… We are gradually progressing with extreme caution," the minister said.

"Keeping the Fukushima experience in mind, the Rooppur plants will have all possible measures to prevent radiation leak.

"We are buying the latest Third Generation technology from Russia where a five-layer security measure will be installed," Osman said. It will be built to resist the combined effect of a powerful tsunami and earthquake.

The plant will have a water-based cooling system, but in case of a power failure, automatic air ventilation system will start the cool-down process. The plant structure will be built to withstand even a big aircraft crash, the minister claimed.

RUSSIAN HELP

A final cooperation agreement with Rosatom of Russia has already been signed and the Russian government will provide all necessary support and infrastructure development.

"Russia will also provide the fuel required to run the plant and will also take back the spent fuel," said Osman. "They will also help in human resource development."

The financial agreement is likely to be signed in May or June this year when prime minister Sheikh Hasina visits Russia, he said. "We are working on the financial agreement now."

The cabinet has already passed the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Bill, 2012, which will be tabled in the winter session, Osman said.

The winter session of parliament will commence on Jan 25.

"The law [provisions under the Bill] was formulated after consultations with the IAEA, besides help from the Russian government," Osman claimed.

THE BACKGROUND

The first initiative for a nuclear power plant at Rooppur was taken way back in 1961, and 260 acres was acquired for the purpose.

In 2008, the caretaker government took the initiative to revive the project and started communication with Russia. When the Awami League came to power in 2009, it worked on speedy completion of the project.

A framework agreement with Rosatom was signed in May 2010, and in June a national committee headed by the prime minister was formed to implement the work. The final cooperation agreement with the government and Rosatom was signed on Nov 2. The financial agreement is likely to be signed in May or June this year.

Rooppur N-plant work likely by year-end | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

 

[integra]

Well if they can actually commence this project
as it's a third generation reactor of Russian origin
with 1000 MW capacity, this will probably be a
VVER 1000 type reactor.

Which stands for Vodo-Vodyanoi Energetichesky Reactor ;
Water-Water Energetic Reactor. The basic design isn't that much
Contemporary (atleast not the RBMK designs of cheronobyl: Phew!),
what's worrying is the safety factors considering
the size of our country.

Lastly the news report seems to have some errors,
How on Earth are they going to install
automatic air ventilation system incase of system failure?
Does such a cooling mechanism even enough for a tropical
country like ours?

This power project needs to be discussed extensively,
who knows whats gonna happen if hell breaks over.

 

[Roybot]

India should protest against a Nuclear plant so close to high population density areas. What happens if an earthquake happens

 

[eastwatch]

Well if they can actually commence this project
as it's a third generation reactor of Russian origin
with 1000 MW capacity, this will probably be a
VVER 1000 type reactor.

Which stands for Vodo-Vodyanoi Energetichesky Reactor ;
Water-Water Energetic Reactor. The basic design isn't that much
Contemporary (atleast not the RBMK designs of cheronobyl: Phew!),
what's worrying is the safety factors considering
the size of our country.

Lastly the news report seems to have some errors,
How on Earth are they going to install
automatic air ventilation system incase of system failure?
Does such a cooling mechanism even enough for a tropical
country like ours?

This power project needs to be discussed extensively,
who knows whats gonna happen if hell breaks over.

Though not related to your question, but I will say a few words in an earthquake-like situation: A nuclear reactor is kept cool by continuously circulating cold water to it and then removing it. In case of Fulushima, the earthquake was so strong that it caused the destruction of water intake chambers and the intake pipes in the sea by strong jolt due to earthquake and the subsequent TSUNAMI. Not only this, even the overgrounnd pumps were also washed away by the strong tsunami. This caused the cold sea water to stop circulating through the reactors and the reactors overheated as a result that initiated the melting process.

After this accident many countries put moratorium to the construction of new N. power plants and the well developed countries' enginers and nuclear scientists started to find out solutions for the problem that was encountered in Fukushima. I have no information about how they are going to save other plants in the future earthquake situation. But, the GoJ has already stopped several existing nuclear power plants with similar construction procedure as that of Fukushima.

I believe, Russian engineers will take extra care about how to handle the earthquake situation because IAEA will not allow one without its prior approval. Moreover, since BD has no experience with nuclear reactors, therefore, Russians will be always present in Rooppur to take care of any eventuality.