All necessary safety measures have been adopted for the nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said assuring that there’s no reason to be panicked.
“There are concerns over nuclear power plants as safety is a major issue. And we also take the matter seriously. Each and every aspect of the International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards as well as other international guidelines is being followed religiously,” she said while addressing a civic gathering in Pabna after inaugurating works for the second unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
The army, police as well as all others forces will work for providing security for the plant in the northern district’s Ishwardi, said the prime minister.
“Rooppur plant is being constructed with G3+ Russian reactor which contains the latest technologies for safety measures and radiation control system. Russia will stand by us if any issue comes up. President Vladimir Putin has assured me when we spoke the last time.”
Bangladesh, the 33rd nation to have nuclear power, will use the technology for peace and development, said Haisna. “We expect the two units to add 2,400 MW power to the national grid by 2023-24.”
The prime minister said power is a key pre-requisite for socio-economic development and its adequate, reliable supply is a major factor important for attracting investment.
The government has taken steps to reach electricity to all citizens and various productive sectors as electricity is in the priority list of the demand of the people, she said adding: “Our priority was power when we took office in 2009, which led the generation capacity to rise to 18, 353MW. Ninety percent of the population is now under electricity coverage.”
The premier said the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was a dream project of Bangabandhu. After independence, he took an initiative to construct nuclear plant and started work. But the entire project was abandoned after his brutal assassination in 1975.
Sheikh Hasina said no government for long 21 years had taken any initiative for the project. The Awami League government, after coming to power in 1996, worked out a time-bound plan with IAEA. But before completion of the entire process, the tenure of that government was expired.
After coming to power in 2001, the BNP-Jamaat government stopped implementation of many people-oriented programs, including the Rooppur power plant project, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said after assuming office in 2009, her government had revived the project and came to an agreement with Russian Federation for implementation of the project.
“As a trusted friend, Russia not only extended material and moral support to our liberation war in 1971, but also took part in rebuilding war-ravaged Bangladesh after its independence,” the prime minister recalled.