December 27, 2010

Russia and India teaming to provide small reactors to South Asian market

Power plants in the 200-250 MW range are thought to be an excellent match for the needs of energy-starved Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. India has been helping them by linking their grids with its own. During the recent visit to India by Russian Oresident Medvedev, a framework for the two nations to work together in selling nuclear plants and services was established. Negotiators from New Delhi and Moscow said both sides are confident of executing projects jointly.

[Ref: Shubhajit Roy, "N-plants: India, Russia to counter China in South Asia", IndianExpress.com, December 27, 2010]

September 25, 2007

Bangladesh government plans to ask IAEA to evaluate and otherwise assist in a plan to construct a nuclear power plant in the northern district of Pabna, according to Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, head of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. He said the billion-dollar plant is planned to be operational by 2015. The nation's current peak electrical generating capacity of 3,000 megawatts is about 2,000megawatts less than demand. Last year, violence over power cuts in a northern Bangladesh town left at least 20 people dead in clashes between police and farmers who had demanded more electricity for irrigation. A military-backed government took over the country in January after a state of emergency was imposed.

[Source: Agence France Presse, "BANGLADESH INFRASTRUCTURE: Government plans $1 billion nuclear plant", Bangkok Post, Sept 25, 2007, p. 5]

August 14, 2005