Russia keen to start N-plant work

The Russian government on Wednesday expressed its eagerness to start the ground-breaking work of the proposed nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna within this yea

But, for this to happen, both the sides shall have to complete some preparatory works quickly, Director General of Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation ‘Rosatom’ Sergey Kirienko told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite in Moscow.

Hasina agreed to complete the preparatory works as per the work plan, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Bijan Lal Dev told reporters after the meeting.

He said that the Prime Minister put emphasis on creating mass awareness about the safety measures and safe disposal of nuclear waste.

Kirienko said the Russian company was ready to start awareness programme as fund was available for the purpose and assured Hasina that they would take back nuclear waste as per the agreement.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman and Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin among others were present during the meting.

Later, in the evening the Prime Minister visited the office of the Russian State Gas and Oil Exploration Company — Gazprom.

Hasina went on a three-day visit to Russia on Monday. This is the first official visit of a Bangladesh Prime Minister to Moscow since Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s visit to the erstwhile Soviet Union in April 1972.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh and Russia signed six memorandums of understanding and three deals that include financing of the nuclear power plant.

Source: Bd news24