Bangladesh- Russia signs uranium supply deal

Bangladesh signed deal with Russia for lifetime supply of uranium for its 2,400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Bangladesh. Under the deal, Russia will supply nuclear fuel needed for plant during its entire life cycle. RNPP will come into operation by 2022.

Key Highlights

Deal was signed in Dhaka (Bangladesh capital) between Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) and Russian Nuclear Fuel Supply Company (TVEL) Joint Stock Company, a Russian state-owned nuclear fuel firm. BAEC is tasked with implementing project.

It is a framework agreement that focuses on pricing methodology. Through this agreement, both countries will work to determine prices of nuclear fuel, considering volatile global market which is marked by continuous changes.

RNPP Project:

In 2017, two countries (Russia and Bangladesh) have also signed spent fuel sent back agreement for management of nuclear waste of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

Work on these two units of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), each producing 1200 MW of electricity is scheduled to be completed in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

With power generation capacity of 1200 MW, each unit of power plant will have to reload one-third (33%) of total required nuclear fuel in every 18 months (1.5 years), and 1st, 2nd and 3rd reload will be provided by Russian firm free of cost.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2019