27.04.2016
АSE Group of Companies, engineering division of ROSATOM, in cooperation with Rosatom International Network held educational workshop on nuclear technologies for journalists from Pabna, administrative center of the same-named district, where the construction site of the first Bangladesh nuclear power plant, Rooppur, is located.More than 30 journalists from the construction area of Rooppur NPP took part in the workshop named “What each journalist should know about nuclear power”. Other participants included official representatives of local administration and many other organizations involved in development and implementation of national nuclear power program of Bangladesh.
“As you know, reliable power supply is one of the most important conditions of sustainable economic development of any country. Within 25-30 years, international energy needs are expected to increase against the backdrop of gradual depletion of hydrocarbon reserves and increasing influence of large-scale energy projects on climate and environment. Russia, like many other countries, is concerned about these trends. Therefore, we support the Bangladesh national nuclear power programme that involves construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant in Rooppur region. Rosatom possesses all necessary competences and experience to help Bangladesh fulfill ambition task of implementing the national large-scale nuclear program of the NPP construction and developing high technology industry in the country which will stimulate the socio-economic growth”, said Maksim V. Elchishchev, Vice-president of АSE Group of Companies for project in Bangladesh, in his welcome address.
«Success of any nuclear power project depends on building effective public relations at an early stage. It involves not only supplying accurate information on the progress of the project in question, but also disseminating basic knowledge about nuclear science and technologies. The media have a special role to play in this process. Therefore, it is vital that every Bangladeshi reporter covering nuclear power should know the fundamentals of the nascent industry and be aware of his or her own responsibility for disseminating reliable information that is easy to understand», - Arkady Karneev, Communications Manager ROSATOM Southeast Asia, pointed out in his presentation.
Among the speakers at the workshop was also Ilya Platonov, the head of the specialized information agency Nuclear.Ru and a chief editor of information-analytical journals Nuclear Weekly and Nuclear Renaissance, published by the agency. During the workshop Ilya Platonov familiarized the participants with the current power situation in the world, approaches of international experts to solution of the power crisis in Asia, benefits of nuclear power, key security principles and features of VVER technologies. The participants received the book called "30 questions about nuclear power" issued by Rosatom in Bengali as well as videos about the Russian nuclear industry, nuclear fuel cycle and security systems of VVER reactors.
Journalists showed the greatest interest to implementation of the project of NPP construction, technology and security systems, water cooling and seismic resistance of the plant. Also the interest was sparked by non-power application of nuclear technologies and opportunities for a country joining the "nuclear club".
«Honorable guests have shared their experience. We have got the message that safety guarantee is enshrined in our Rooppur NPP. I want to see success in every step of this NPP project, it reach the goal and take a chance for sociopolitical development of our Bangladesh”, - Mr. Shibjit Nag, Chairman of the regional Pabna Press Club said.
Robiul Islam Robi, President of Pabna Press Club and Chief-Editor of the Daily Pabna Protodim summed up the discussion and called the workshop a unique event in the history of Pabna journalism: "The workshop helped the journalist to get basic knowledge on nuclear power, so they could better inform citizens about the project of Rooppur NPP. The workshop aroused great interest, an unprecedented number of journalists participated in it and we will be happy if such events take place on a regular basis”, - he said.
For reference:
Rooppur NPP project, which provides for 2 power units with the gross installed capacity of 2,400 MW to be constructed, is implemented in accordance with the Agreement signed between the Governments of Russia and Bangladesh of 2 November 2011. The General Contractor is Atomstroyexport as part of ASE Group of Companies representing engineering division of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.
The design for Rooppur NPP was selected to be AES-2006, a Russian design with VVER-type reactors of 1200 MW each having a prototype at Novovoronezh NPP-2 (Russia). This is an evolutionary design of Generation III+ which meets all international safety requirements and recommendations. This design was offered for Rooppur NPP as the most efficient in terms of safety and reliability as well as the most beneficial for Bangladesh from economic point of view.
