RAJSHAHI, July 18, 2018 (BSS) – Rooppur nuclear power plant will play a
vital role in sustainable socioeconomic development of the country as it will
generate electricity with ushering a new era in research and training on
nuclear energy, experts said.
They came up with the observation at a seminar at Senate Building of
Rajshahi University (RU) here yesterday. RU’s Department of Physics hosted
the seminar in association with Information Centre of Nuclear Energy (ICONE)
as a part of the week of nuclear science.
Vice-chancellor (VC) Professor Abdus Sobhan and Pro-VC Professor Ananda
Kumar Shaha addressed the seminar as chief and special guests respectively
with Chairman of the physics department Professor Golam Mourtoza in the
chair.
Dr Oleg Tasslikov from Russian Ural Federal University, Former Chairman of
Bangladesh Nuclear Energy Commission Dr Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan and Engineer
of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project Ali Julkarnain presented three keynote
papers titled ‘It’s my life: the future energy, nuclear nest-doll, working
scope for people’, ‘Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Management’ and ‘An
Overview of Nuclear Power and Safety of VVER-1200 Reactor’ respectively.
Presenting his paper Dr Bhuiyan said the nuclear energy will contribute to
agriculture, industries and medicine sectors and open a new window in
hydrogen generation and water desalination opportunities.
He told the seminar that the Rooppur plant has two units with a capacity of
1200 MWs each. After being commissioned of the plant, Bangladesh will be
the third South Asian country after India and Pakistan to harness energy from
atomic fission.
Prof Islam also presented a study relating to public perception on nuclear
power. The study was conducted on 400 engineering students from public and
private universities. Some 67 percent of them are aware of nuclear power
technology and showed positive attitude while 19 percent disagreed and 14
percent remained neutral.
While presenting his keynote paper, Engineer Julkarnain said: “We hope
nuclear energy will produce up to 20 percent electricity in future.”
“Russia has agreed to take back spent fuel from the site as Bangladesh
lacks geographical depth and skilled manpower to deal with it,” he added.