In early December, a delegation from Bangladesh arrived in Russia to get acquainted with the specifics of nuclear power plant operation and local community engagement. Among the delegates were representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Administration of Pabna District where the first nuclear station in Bangladesh will be constructed, Bangladeshi Embassy to Russia and reporters.
“We plan to construct the first nuclear station in the country with Russia’s assistance, and it is very important for us to study all the aspects of nuclear plant operation, including the community engagement,” Anwar Hossain, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, said in his statement. “Our goal is to share the knowledge acquired here with the local communities in Bangladesh so that we can build, confidently and safely, a nuclear city in Bangladesh rather than a single nuclear station.”
The first item on the agenda was a visit to the office of Rosatom’s ASE Engineering Group in Moscow. The delegates were demonstrated projects and innovations of Rosatom’s engineering division, VVER technology and the specifics of nuclear construction in tropical countries at increased temperature and humidity. Senior Vice President and Director of ASE Office in Moscow Vladimir Savushkin told the delegates, “We are aware that the global nuclear industry should be open and transparent in order to move ahead. It is only then that people will understand what advantages it offers and what technologies ensure safety at nuclear power plants.”
The delegation then traveled to the Voronezh Region where they visited Novovoronezh Unit 5 and a construction site for Units 6 and 7. Much interest was paid to active and passive safety systems and staff qualification. Igor Gusev, Deputy Chief Engineer at Novovoronezh NPP, noted, “We are guided by IAEA principles in our activities. After a recent visit to Novovoronezh Unit 5 as part of the IAEA OSART mission, a group of international experts appreciated the quality of our work in their report.”
The delegates met Novovoronezh Mayor Sergei Chistyakov who told them about joint projects carried out by municipal authorities and the station to improve local living standards. The nuclear station is a local economic mainstay and a Top 3 taxpayer in the Voronezh Region. “The 50-year history of Novovoronezh NPP has demonstrated the local community its safety, and we are interested in other nuclear facilities to be built here. The station is the most environmentally friendly source of electric power in the Voronezh Region, and we are proud of this neighborhood. It is not our town alone that benefits from it – this facility brings economic and social benefits to adjacent districts as well,” Sergei Chistyakov noted. The delegates and the mayor discussed advantages offered by the presence of nuclear facilities in the region. They were also demonstrated community engagement approaches in the Voronezh Nuclear Information Center.
In all appearances, the guests were satisfied with what they saw in Russia. Following the visit, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Anwar Hossain appreciated high safety standards and professionalism of the nuclear station staff as well as Rosatom’s commitment to the Bangladeshi project.
For your reference: the nuclear station to be built in Bangladesh by Russian companies will operate two VVER reactors. The project will be based on the AES-2006 design modified to offer a solution that best fits local conditions.
