LeonBlack08
INT'L MOD
China has proposed a 100-megawatt Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant near the planned Chinese Economic Zone in Mongla, Bagerhat, potentially marking Bangladesh’s first SMR project.
The plant would primarily supply power to the economic zone, with surplus electricity available for sale to Bangladesh and integration into the national grid.
The proposal comes as Bangladesh seeks to expand its nuclear energy programme beyond the 2,400MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is being built with Russian assistance.
It also follows Bangladesh’s recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
SMRs are designed to be smaller, more flexible and potentially easier to deploy than conventional nuclear power plants. China, Russia and the United States are among the countries developing the technology.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh had taken an initial decision to explore SMR technology and was holding discussions with several countries.
“We need to learn more about SMRs. We are interested in them. But we will make a decision after understanding them better,” he said.
The minister, however, said the specific Chinese proposal for Mongla had not yet reached him.
The proposal was discussed in the second week of August at a meeting between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) and a Chinese delegation.
Eight representatives from Bangladesh and eight officials from the state-owned China National Nuclear Cooperation Overseas Limited attended the meeting.
Four Chinese experts made presentations on different aspects of SMR technology and sought Bangladesh’s views on the proposed project.
An official who attended the meeting said preliminary discussions included a proposal for Bangladesh to provide land for the project free of cost.
The government would also consider waiving import duties on machinery and other equipment required for the plant, the official said.
Bangladesh also proposed employing local workers at the facility to help develop domestic expertise in SMR technology.
It further asked China to construct a bridge over the Mongla River as part of the proposed project.
The plant would primarily supply power to the economic zone, with surplus electricity available for sale to Bangladesh and integration into the national grid.
The proposal comes as Bangladesh seeks to expand its nuclear energy programme beyond the 2,400MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is being built with Russian assistance.
It also follows Bangladesh’s recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
SMRs are designed to be smaller, more flexible and potentially easier to deploy than conventional nuclear power plants. China, Russia and the United States are among the countries developing the technology.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh had taken an initial decision to explore SMR technology and was holding discussions with several countries.
“We need to learn more about SMRs. We are interested in them. But we will make a decision after understanding them better,” he said.
The minister, however, said the specific Chinese proposal for Mongla had not yet reached him.
The proposal was discussed in the second week of August at a meeting between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) and a Chinese delegation.
Eight representatives from Bangladesh and eight officials from the state-owned China National Nuclear Cooperation Overseas Limited attended the meeting.
Four Chinese experts made presentations on different aspects of SMR technology and sought Bangladesh’s views on the proposed project.
An official who attended the meeting said preliminary discussions included a proposal for Bangladesh to provide land for the project free of cost.
The government would also consider waiving import duties on machinery and other equipment required for the plant, the official said.
Bangladesh also proposed employing local workers at the facility to help develop domestic expertise in SMR technology.
It further asked China to construct a bridge over the Mongla River as part of the proposed project.
