Bangladesh: Bangladesh has reportedly received the first Russian shipment of uranium fuel for its first nuclear power plant.
Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom is collaborating with the country to build the first two nuclear power plants. Ninety percent of the $12.65 billion project is funded through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.
It will make the South Asian country the 33rd nation in the world to produce nuclear energy. According to Russia’s state news agency, TASS, the engineering division of Rosatom is in charge of designing and building nuclear power plants.
“Today is a day of pride and joy for the people of Bangladesh,” Prime Minister Ms. Sheikh Hasina stated during a video conference with Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, Mr. Putin thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for supervising the project.
The plant is anticipated to have a life cycle of 60 years, and it is also expected to extend its operations by 20 more years. Once the plant is operational, out of the 2,000 workers, approximately 1,500 will get training in Russia.
“Bangladesh stands as a success story for newcomer countries in nuclear power development, advancing its program under the [IAEA’s] guidance,” IAEA head Mr. Rafael Grossi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mr. Sergei Lavrov, the first Russian foreign minister to visit Bangladesh since 1971, promised Bangladesh that Moscow was committed to completing the project on time, despite obstacles from Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
TRENDING | European firms dump harmful ship wastes on Bangladesh beaches; HRW
