'Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant likely to start this year'

Parliament Correspondent: Minister for Science and Technology architect Yafes Osman said main construction work of much-hyped Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is likely to start in the middle of this year.

The minister came up with the disclosure while replying to a question in the 14th session of the 10th Jatiyo Sangsad (JS) on Thursday afternoon.

The Minister for Science and Technology said the preparatory construction work of the nuclear power plant is already at a concluding stage. The main phase of the construction work is expected to begin in the middle of 2017.

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission signed a general contract with Atomstroyexport, a Russian nuclear power equipment and service exporter, on  December 25, 2015 to construct the main power plant after formation of state-owned Nuclear Power Plant Company of Bangladesh in September last year, he said.

Under the main phase of the project, necessary land will be acquired, physical infrastructure will be erected and manpower will be recruited and trained up on nuclear power technology, the minister said.

The minister added that it will require manpower of approximately 2,535 workers to complete the first phase of the projects to accomplish preliminary work of the main power plant.

risingbd/DHAKA/Jan 26, 2017/Nripen/Amirul