(July 12, 1996) The Bangladeshi government is shortlisting investors willing to fund the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) is considering private firms along with government agencies for the Rooppur plant as teh government is now encouraging the private sector to fund such projects.
(455.4508) WISE-Amsterdam - The IAEA is willing to provide consultancy in the installation and operation of the plant. Since years, Bangladesh officials are advocates of nuclear technology and nuclear energy. In 1987, the head of the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nations conference for the promotion of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Ataul Karim said: "Bangladesh is convinced that if used in a planned manner with adequate care and caution, the nuclear technology can usher in a new era of progress and prosperity for the developing world (...).
Already in the mid-sixties, before Bangladesh became independence from Pakistan (December 1971), there were talks of constructing a 125MW nuclear reactor at Rooppur, supplied by first the USA, then Canada, then the Soviet Union and when that didn't succeed also, France. Even Saudi Arabia was (in 1981) said to be willing to finance the whole project. But it didn't work out.
Currently, one 3MW research reactor is in operation in Bangladesh. On 14 Sept. 1986, the Triga Mark II (supplied by the US company GA Technologies) became critical at Rooppur.
Sources:
- Asian Energy News, April 1996
- Statement by H.E.Mr.A.H.S. Ataul Karim, March 27, 1987
- Jahrbuch der Atomwirtschaft 1981
- New Scientist (UK), 8 Oct. 1981