Bangladesh Prepares for First Nuclear Power Plant Amidst Safety Concerns

Kathmandu. As Bangladesh prepares to operate its first nuclear power plant, hopes are high that it will end the long-term electricity shortage. However, concerns about nuclear safety remain among local residents living near the plant.

The $13 billion Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, located on the banks of the Padma River about 150 kilometers west of Dhaka, is on the verge of operation after more than a decade of construction. Once the two reactors with a capacity of 2.4 gigawatts are fully operational, they are expected to supply more than 10 percent of the electricity demand of Bangladesh, which has a population of 170 million. Officials said the first reactor will be operational by the end of this year and the second within a year.