DHAKA, Oct 11, 2021 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought

Russian support and cooperation to set up another nuclear power plant in the
country's southern region.

   "We want to install another nuclear power plant in the country's southern
region and continuous Russian support is needed in this regard," she said.

  The premier said this while Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation,
ROSATOM's Director General Alexey Likhachev called on her at her official
residence Ganabhaban here this morning.

   Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the newsmen about the
outcome of the meeting.

   Bangladesh is setting up its first ever nuclear power plant at Rooppur in
Pabna with the technical and financial support of Russia. Russian State
Atomic Engergy Corporation, ROSATOM is providing this support.

   Laying utmost emphasis on the security issues, the premier urged the
ROSATOM director general to train up local people so they can run the Rooppur
Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

   Alexey Likhachev said cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia stepped
into atomic-sphere and Bangladesh will become a country enriched with nuclear
energy and power by 2023.

   He said his country will train up Bangladeshi people to operate the RNPP,
adding their cooperation to Bangladesh's power sector will continue.

  He also praised the local workforce as over 20,000 persons including
engineers, technicians and others are working in the RNPP who are making
remarkable contribution.

  Many Bangladeshi companies are also engaged in subcontract, he said.

   The ROSATOM director general appreciated the cooperation of the concerned
ministries and Bangladesh Atomic Commission regarding the implementation of
RNPP, but "time of implementation may be adjusted".

   Regarding the security issues, he said RNPP is their top priority and they
are also working on the social development in the neighborhood areas of the
plant.

   He also presented the technical and security aspects of the RNPP before
the Prime Minister.

   Alexey Likhachev praised the prime minister highly for her support towards
the implementation of RNPP.

   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also fondly recalled the support of the then
Russian Federation during the War of Liberation.

  She also told the ROSATOM director general that the Covid-19 pandemic has
slowed Bangladesh's progress slightly, but now the country is overcoming the
situation and moving ahead.

   The ROSATOM official extended his gratitude to the health ministry as over
90 percent of the Russian nationals working at RNPP have been vaccinated by
them.

   Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, Ambassador-at-
Large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and
Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry Ziaul Hasan were also present.

   Sheikh Hasina on Sunday remotely inaugurated the reactor pressure vessel
installation work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), which is being
implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission with the technical and
financial support of Russia.

   With installation of the reactor in the main unit of RNPP in Pabna, the
country's dream to generate nuclear energy is going to be materialized.

   Rosatom's director general Alexey Likhachev joined the installation work
of reactor pressure vessel as special guest.

   Installation of almost all types of nuclear equipment was completed by
setting up reactor pressure vessels inside the physical structure of Unit-1.
As a result, the work inside the reactor building of this unit nears
completion.

   RNPP has accumulated the best Russian practice and dozens of years of
experience and scientific thoughts and the unique combination of active and
passive systems of the power units will ensure safe operation of the power
plant and guarantee the planned level of electricity generation.

   The RNPP in Pabna that consists of two units with capacity of 1,200MW
power each is the country's maiden power project of its kind.