05.07.2017
On Monday, July 03, 2017 Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), paid a visit to the site of the Rooppur NPP project in Pabna, Bangladesh. Yukiya Amanoexpressed his satisfaction over compliance in implementing Rooppur Nuclear Power Project adding that Bangladesh constructs the plant with considering high standard security measure. Science and Technology Minister Yafesh Osman was present during the visit of IAEA Director General.
“Bangladesh is in a right track as it maintains all international standard and norms to implement the Rooppur Power Project,” IAEA chief told journalists during a press conference at Rooppur in Pabna. After the field visit, the IAEA chief met a bilateral meeting with top officials of the ministry of science and technology (MoST).«The implementation of the Rooppur Nuclear power project goes smoothly», MoST Secretary Anwar Hossain told after the meeting. He said the government has already ordered the equipment for implementing the project.“We are hopeful main construction (the first concrete pouring) of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant formally inaugurate by both prime ministers of Bangladesh and Russian Federation,” he said.
Yukiya Amano said that the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA), as a UN special organization, has for its main task to ensure peaceful use of atomic powers of IAEA member states. Yukiya mentioned that safety and risk management issues are the things that need to be sorted out before moving ahead with nuclear power projects. The government of Bangladesh was keeping in close touch with the IAEA to get the idea of the most efficient risk management and safety measures for the Rooppur nuclear power project, he said, adding that the IAEA believes Bangladesh had adopted the best practices and the state-of-the-art technology. The IAEA Secretary General assured that they would continue the cooperation in providing the know-how of the safety and risk management of nuclear power projects in Bangladesh.
The IAEA Secretary General later met Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq to discuss the security measures being taken for the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.
According to Alexander Khazin, Senior Vice-President for International Projects at АSE Group of Companies: "Rooppur NPP Project has the highest national priority in Bangladesh. The visit of IAEA Director General Yukia Amano to the Ruppur NPP unequivocally confirms the important international significance of this project for the development of the country, which is actively embracing innovative Russian nuclear technology which successfully gained the international authority, including among the "newcomers" in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. In addition, Mr. Amano noted that since his last visit in 2010 he sees a great progress in the development of Bangladesh as a member of the IAEA and for himself personally considers the Rooppur NPP project a priority."
