Bangladesh, Russia agree to expedite Rooppur nuclear plant work

DHAKA, September 14: Bangladesh and Russia have agreed to expedite the remaining work on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to ensure electricity generation and supply to the national grid at the earliest possible time.

The issue was discussed at a bilateral meeting between Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam and Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom, on the sidelines of the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Monday.

The two sides discussed the latest progress of the Rooppur project and measures to ensure that electricity generated by the plant is supplied to the national grid as soon as possible.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to accelerate the construction and other remaining works in line with the project’s targets to move towards power generation at the earliest.

The science and technology minister stressed the need to complete the remaining work as quickly as possible while maintaining international nuclear safety standards and the highest level of safety throughout the project.

Likhachev assured the minister that Rosatom would continue providing uninterrupted technical and strategic support for the successful implementation of the project.

Rooppur is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant and is being built in Ishwardi, Pabna, with technical and financial cooperation from Russia.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev exchanged commemorative gifts as a symbol of the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and Russia.

Officials from both countries were present at the bilateral meeting, which was held in a cordial atmosphere.

The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to taking the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant towards successful and timely completion.