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Bangladesh seeks Russian help to to build nuclear power plant
Dhaka (AFP) Sept 10, 2007 Bangladesh's emergency government has sought Russian assistance to build a nuclear power plant to meet electricity shortages that have sparked riots and hit the country's economy. Foreign minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury raised the issue with Russian authorities during his visit last week to Moscow, foreign ministry spokesman Nazmul Qaonine said on Monday. "We have formally expressed our interest to Russia that we want their technology to set up a nuclear plant for generating power for peaceful uses," Qaonine said. "Dr. Chowdhury has held detailed discussions with the Russian deputy minister for energy, Ivan Materver, on possible Russian cooperation in setting up a nuclear power plant. And Russia is positive (toward giving assistance)," he added. The cooperation was sought as Bangladesh's gas reserve is fast depleting, forcing the country to look for alternative source of energy, he said. Last year Bangladesh approved its first nuclear power police and earlier this year received approval from the International Atomic Energy Commission, the global nuclear watchdog, to set up a nuclear power plant for peaceful use. The installation would be the first nuclear power plant in the Muslim-majority nation of 140 million people. The country is already a signatory to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Bangladesh faces massive electricity shortages that have hit its booming textile industry. It is capable of generating 3,000 megawatts at peak times -- 2,000 megawatts short of actual demand. Last year, violence over power cuts in a northern Bangladesh town left at least 20 people dead in clashes between police and farmers who had demanded increased power supply for irrigation. The country's military-backed government, which took over in January after emergency rule was imposed and elections cancelled over vote-rigging allegations, has made tackling the power crisis a top priority. The World Bank in July last year estimated that Bangladesh needed 10 billion dollars in investment to improve its electricity supply over the next decade. There was no immediate estimate of the cost of constructing such a plant. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
UN atomic agency to meet with ElBaradei urging patience
Vienna (AFP) Sept 9, 2007The UN atomic agency meets on Iran this week with its chief Mohamed ElBaradei calling for worried nations to give him a few months to see if new inspections shed light on whether Tehran seeks the bomb. |
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