Sputnik Opinion
In-depth analysis of regional & global events provided by Indian & foreign experts - from politics & economics to sci-tech & health.

Rooppur NPP - Anchor of Russia-Bangladesh Relations: Expert

The delivery of Russian fuel for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) officially took place today, marking another step towards the completion of the project and ensuring the further development of Bangladesh's energy sector.
Sputnik
According to Bangladesh's Prime Minister Hasina Sheikh, this is a very important step forward for the country's economy.

Against this backdrop, Sputnik India spoke to an expert to find out what the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant can bring to Bangladesh's economy and people.
Anton Khlopkov, director of the Centre for Energy and Security, identified several major positive aspects of such a large-scale energy project for the local Bangladeshi population.

"First of all, it is a high-tech project. Therefore, this project will train specialists for Bangladesh for decades. [...] We are talking about more than 1,500 specialists in the initial stage, and on the basis of specialized Bangladeshi universities", the expet said.

He also emphasized the importance of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant for local business, which will be responsible for supplies, thus becoming ancillary business for the Rooppur NPP.
Khlopkov noted the Bangladesh government's growing ambition to build new nuclear power plants. Plans have already been announced to expand the Rooppur NPP and build at least two more units. In addition, Bangladeshi leaders have expressed interest in building another NPP at a different site. Moreover, the expert positively assessed the impact of the project on bilateral relations between Russia and Bangladesh.

"So the impact of this plant, this project on the country is quite multifactorial, multidirectional. But it is also very important, in my opinion, that it will become a kind of anchor for Russian-Bangladeshi relations for many years", Khlopkov said.

Khlopkov also emphasized the importance of Rosatom's participation in future NPP projects in Bangladesh. The company will assist in the operation of the plants, supply fresh fuel, take back irradiated nuclear fuel, and otherwise cooperate with Bangladesh in the nuclear sphere.
When asked how promising the cooperation with Bangladesh in the field of nuclear energy is for Russia, the expert pointed to the high demand for electricity in the country, indicating the potential opportunities for further development of the country's energy sector.

According to Khlopkov "it is worth mentioning that today Bangladesh is a country with a shortage of electricity. In recent years, about 10% of the consumed electricity was supplied by India. In other words, Bangladesh has not been self-sufficient in electricity".

Another significant factor in the prospects of Bangladesh's energy sector, which the expert pointed out, is the impressive growth rate of the power sector in Bangladesh.

"In addition, Bangladesh's power sector is one of the fastest growing in the South Asian region. For example, generation capacity has almost tripled in the last 10-12 years. And this trend is expected to continue", Khlopkov noted.

As the country's energy needs continue to grow, the commissioning of the first two units of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is a significant milestone that lays a solid foundation for promoting cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh in the nuclear energy sector. It is prudent and essential to consider the potential for expanding cooperation between the two nations in the field of nuclear energy.
World News
Rosatom Head Presents Rooppur's Maiden Fuel Delivery Certificate to Bangladeshi PM
Discuss