Dhaka, Nov 2: Energy-starved Bangladesh today inked a landmark nuclear cooperation deal with Russia that includes the setting up of an atomic power plant in the country's northwestern Pabna district.
The bilateral agreement opens the way for setting up Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant (NPP) to produce 2000 megawatt electricity at Rooppur, 125 km northwest of capital Dhaka.
Russia would provide assistance in the setting up of two nuclear units with a capacity of 1000 megawatt each under the pact.
“I hope our future nuclear cooperation would extend to peaceful use of nuclear energy in the field of agriculture and medicine,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was present at the function in the capital where Yafes Osman, the State Minister for Science and Information & Communication Technology signed the deal on behalf of Bangladesh.
Officials familiar with the process said a separate deal would be inked between the two governments for financing the nuclear power plants.
“Russia will provide the necessary nuclear fuel for the plants on a long-term basis and it would take back the spent fuel of the plants,” said an official of Bangladesh's Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).
He said Moscow would also provide training for human resource development at different levels of the project. The official said Russia's joint stock company Atomstroyexport would perform its responsibilities as a contractor, while BAEC would perform its responsibilities as a customer.
Osman earlier said the deal would greatly help the country meet its power demands. The pact comes nearly two years after Dhaka signed a framework agreement with Moscow for the nuclear plant at Rooppur by 2017-18 at a cost of USD 1.5 to USD 2 billion.
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