Russia wants to start work on Rooppur nuke plant

The Russian government wants to start the groundbreaking work on the proposed nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna within this year, a Russian official told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“But, for this both sides should have to complete some preparatory works quickly,” Director General of Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation ‘Rosatom’ Sergey Kirienko said when he met Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite on Wednesday afternoon.

In response, the Prime agreed to complete the preparatory works as per the work plan, PM’s deputy press secretary Bijan Lal Dev briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the Prime Minister laid emphasis on creating mass awareness about safety measures and safe disposal of nuclear wastes.

In this regard, Kirienko said the Russian company is ready to launch an awareness programme as fund is available for the purpose.

He also assured the Prime Minister that they would take back nuclear wastes as per the agreement.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Science and Technology Architect Yeafesh Osman and Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin were, among others, present at the meeting.

Later, in the evening, the prime Minister visited the office of the Russian State Gas and Oil Exploration Company (Gazprom)