Presently, primary commercial energy resources include natural gas, oil, condensates, coal, peat and renewable energy resources. Biomass still plays an important role in the country’s energy consumption in the rural area. Government is actively considering use of nuclear energy for electricity generation.

The appreciable commercial energy resources of the country are a well-developed natural gas sector and an undeveloped coal sector. Prevailing constraints in the indigenous commercial energy sources limit the scope of widening the range of possible long-term national energy supplies.

A long-term strategic plan is required for carrying out systematic exploration and proper appraisal of discoveries. Hydrocarbon resource assessment studies indicate good prospects for finding new hydrocarbon resources, especially in the offshore and deep-sea areas.

Bangladesh is facing twin energy crises – an urban energy crisis characterized by power shortages and skyrocketing gas consumption and a rural energy crisis reflected in the increasing inability of the rural poor to have access even to low-valued traditional biomass. To overcome these crises, sector reforms and additional investments are urgently needed for accelerated development, and thus improving basic livelihoods of urban and rural population.

Areas having prospects of finding uranium and thorium deposits are to be appraised and techno-economic feasibility studies conducted at prospective sites.

An earlier energy planning effort led to the formulation of the first National Energy Policy (NEP) in 1996, which brought Government attention to the urgency of ensuring proper exploration, production, distribution and rational use of energy sources to meet the growing energy demand of the country. With the rapid changes in global, as well as domestic conditions, the Energy & Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has undertaken a comprehensive programme for updating the National Energy Policy. The proposed updated policy will describe the role that the energy sector must play in order to meet its obligations for sustainable development of the country. This policy will also focus on implementation mechanisms and procedures for tracking results to ensure that the policies are reflected in practice.

Priority will be given on diversification of available indigenous commercial energy resources, with coal assuming a much expanded role in providing the country’s future energy needs.

The recoverable reserves of four coalfields could range from 250 million to 900 million tons, depending on the mining methods applied.

Due attention will be given for implementation of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to cater to the future energy needs of the country. At the same time, opportunity for regional energy trade will be explored to enhance energy security of the country.

The major issues causing slow development of the energy sector have been identified by Government and other agencies. The following remedial measures need to be taken to address those issues:

• More emphasis needs to be given on hydrocarbon exploration and development by national companies as well as IOCs to meet the future demand of gas.

• Dependence on natural gas is to be reduced by developing alternative sources of commercial energy.

• Gas and electricity consumption practices are to be improved by efficient management.

• Transparent transaction of subsidies needs to be ensured through oversight of the regulatory body.

• Massive investment is required to meet the growing energy demand.

• Power supply shortages are to be addressed by establishing new power plants, and proper maintenance and rehabilitation of existing power plants.

• Public-private partnership and/or joint ventures and private sector participation are to be further encouraged.

• Institutional capacity is to be built through necessary legal and administrative reforms and intensive investment programmes.

• Nuclear energy is to be introduced within the shortest possible time.

Strategic Goals

The overall goals of the energy sector are to:

• Provide adequate and secure energy resources for all.

• Support socio-economic development.

• Reduce poverty and ensure social equity.

• Provide a sustainable energy mix.

• Promote rational use of energy.

• Improve sector management and performance.

• Increase private sector investment.

• Ensure balanced growth of the east and west zones of the country.

• Promote regional energy markets.

Source: NEP 2008

Bangladesh's per capita energy consumption is very low. The 2013 energy consumption value stands at about 216 kgOE compared to the world average of 1894 kgOE. Total primary energy consumption in 2013 was 33.90 MTOE. Two-thirds of the country's total population level in rural areas, meeting most of their energy needs (domestic, commercial and industrial) from traditional biomass fuels. Various marketing companies under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) distribute kerosene and diesel throughout the country at a uniform tariff rate set by the government. Around 62% have access to electricity with a per capita availability of 321 kWh per annum.

The quality of service in rural areas is very poor: frequent outages, voltage fluctuations and unreliable and erratic supply. Biomass has a large contribution in the total primary energy consumption of Bangladesh, at around 60%.

Natural gas is currently the only indigenous non-renewable energy resource of the country and this has been continuously produced and consumed in significant quantities since 1970. Gas, the main source of commercial energy, plays a vital role in the economic growth of Bangladesh. The major consumers of gas are the power and fertiliser (using gas as feedstock) sectors, which account for 46.65% and 21.71% respectively.

Natural Gas

Bangladesh gas sector started its journey in the 1960s, but its rapid expansion and integration and integration started to accelerate in the early 1970s spurred by the rising oil prices. Until now, 24 gas fields have been discovered. Natural gas fills about 75% of the total fuel consumption of the country.

Because of the increasing demand of gas, the exploration of new gas field and the development of the discovered gas fields are very important. During the financial year 2011-12, a total of 29 projects are being implemented by Petro Bangla and its companies in the oil, gas and mineral sector.

Coal

According to the present development data, the coalfields in Bangladesh are divided into five coalfields, all of which occur in the north western area that is sandwiched between the Jamuna River and the Padma River in north western Bangladesh.

At present, foreign companies, including Indian and South Korean companies, are aggressively engaged in coal development in the country. In particular, since Godwin coal is a kind coke of good quality with limited global availability, it has drawn much attention from concerned parties in many parts of the world.

Renewables

Low-income developing countries like Bangladesh are very much susceptible to the setbacks arising from the on-going energy crisis. Natural gas lies at the heart of the country’s energy usage, accounting for around 72% of the total commercial energy consumption and 81.72% of the total electricity generated. Such an overwhelming dependence on bio fuel has brought into focus the substantial amount of renewable energy resources available in the country. The potential non-exhaustive sources of energies, available in the form solar, biomass, biogas, hydropower and wind, can be harnessed to provide an environmentally sustainable energy security, as well as affordable power supply to the off-grid rural areas of the country. To this end, effective utilization of renewable energy resources has been adopted as a policy of the Government of Bangladesh (GOB). Different government, semi - government and non-government organizations (NGOs) have been working separately or jointly to disseminate renewable energy technologies (RET) throughout the country over a significant period.

At present, the different categories of renewable energy that are being used in limited ways in Bangladesh are solar, wind, hydro, waste biogas, and biomass gasification.

Hydroelectricity

The Karnafuly Hydro Power Station is the only hydropower plant in the country with a capacity of 230 MW. It is operated by BPDB (Bangladesh Power Development Board). BPDB is considering increasing production up to 330MW.

Biomass

Bangladesh is an agricultural country so biomass is available in huge amount. Cattle dun g, agricultural residue, poultry dropping, water hyacinth, rice husk etc. used for biomass power generation are available in Bangladesh.

Biogas

Biogas production plays an important role in Bangladesh since the necessary resources are plentiful. The Government along with several NGOs are working together for development of power production from Biogas. Grameen Shakti is one of the most uttered NGO in field of biogas and has completed several works.

Solar Energy

Infrastructure Development Company limited (IDCOL) has supported NGOs in installing solar home systems (SHSs); a total of 1,320,965 SHSs having capacity of approximately 36.5 MW have been installed up to February 2012.

Wind

Bangladesh is in the midst of a severe energy and power supply crisis; one of the worst in South Asia. However, the government is now looking to explore the potential of wind energy, particularly along the country’s 724 km long coastline. Wind energy can potentially generate more than 2000 megawatts of electricity in the coastal regions. The growth of wind energy in the underdeveloped, coastal areas of the country holds hope for poor, isolated communities that are not connected to the national electricity grid and who are also unlikely to receive grid connection in the near future due to the high cost of establishing infrastructure, and growing scarcity of traditional energy inputs. The Bangladesh Power Development Board has estimated that wind energy can contribute to 10% of the energy needs of the country. The Board has also calculated the cost to generate one kWh from wind energy to be about half the cost of generating an equivalent unit of power from solar energy. The expansion of the potential of wind energy will be crucial in order for Bangladesh to achieve its national vision of providing electricity to all of its population by 2020.

Source: “Current Status of Renewable energy sector of Bangladesh and a proposed grid connected hybrid renewable energy system”, International Journal of advanced renewable energy research, Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue 11, pp 618-627, 2012

Table 1. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES (2014)

* Net Remaining Reserve

Source: Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government,

Web site of Energy and Mineral Resource Division.

Annual Report 2014, PetroBangla, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation.

Table 2: ENERGY STATISTICS (All energy values are in Exajoule)

** Energy consumption = Primary energy consumption + Net import (Import - Export) of secondary energy.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite

Source: Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government, FORUM: A monthly publication of “The Daily Star”, Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2010, Official web site of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, The Financial Express, 18^th January 2013, Bangladesh Economic Review, 2012, BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2012.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) was created in 1972, a public sector organisation. The Rural Electrification Board (REB) was established in 1977, as a semi-autonomous government agency.

As Dhaka grew in population and became a metropolitan city, the need for its own electricity grid led to the creation of the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) in 1991. It was created to operate and develop the distribution system and bring improvements in customer service, revenue collection and lessen the administrative burden of BPDB. The Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd. (DPDCL) took over DESA activities in 2008 as part of an overall power sector reform, to unite the energy system, and produce a more competitive, reliable and efficient system. The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) was created in 1996 to own, operate and expand the national power grid. In 2003, PGCB completed the takeover and began the operation of all the transmission assets of BPDB and DESA. The PGCB is a public limited company, and is 76.25 % owned by BPDB; the remaining 23.75% is owned by the general public.

The creation of the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) was also part of the reforms. It is a public sector company, and a subsidiary of DESA. However, in the future, its shares will be offered to other power sector entities and the general public.

The REB has 70 operating rural electric cooperatives called Palli Bidyuit Samity (PBS). These cover more than 90% of the area for rural electrification. These cooperatives bring service to approximately 7,200,000 new connections, and are constructing more than 14,000 km of new transmission and distribution lines each year.

The oil and natural gas market is primarily operated by the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation, which holds the shares of all state-owned companies involved in oil and gas production and exploration, and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is responsible for the refining, distribution and import of crude oil and petroleum products.

The electricity sector of Bangladesh has undergone reform since the mid-1990s, including unbundling of the state-owned energy supplier, the BPDB, into separate companies responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution. At present BPDB is functioning as a single buyer, except for some direct power purchase from small IPPs. Multi buyer/competitive pools may be adopted when the market becomes mature and stable.

Since 1996, responsibility for the operation and expansion of the entire electricity transmission grid has lain with the PGCB, a subsidiary of the BPDP. Since the start of the power reform process in 1996, the DPDCL (formally the DESA) has shared electricity distribution operations in the capital with the DESCO. In addition, a further power distribution company, the West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDC), was established in 2003 as a BPDB subsidiary, and is responsible for the country’s southwest.

Although generation, transmission and distribution have been opened to foreign and private sector involvement, these sectors remain dominated by state-owned entities. BPDB accounts for over 70% of the electricity generated in Bangladesh. This share also includes the first BPDB-founded subsidiaries, such as the Ashuganj Power Company (APS), which originated with the transformation in 2002 of the state-owned Ashuganj Power Station into a joint stock company. IPPs have been allowed to enter the market since 1996. Between 1998 and 2005, seven power plants belonging to IPPs started operation, providing an installed capacity of more than 1,290 MW, mainly fired by natural gas. These plants represent a 26% share in the country’s total electrical generating capacity. Actual planning envisages the construction of further power plants by non-state-run producers, or joint state and private providers, for a total output exceeding 1,590 MW. Self-generators account for 1.1 GW of installed capacity in Bangladesh.

Moreover, the government declared its vision “Twenty-Twenty,” suggesting government would ensure electricity for all by the year 2020.

Source: Retrieved from the website http://www.reegle.info/policy-and-regulatory-overviews/BD, dated 23^rd April, 2012.

Perspective Energy Plan of Present Government

The Perspective Plan of the Planning Commission of the government of Bangladesh for the period 2010 – 2021 has recommended an energy mix to achieve the generation of 20,000 MW by 2021. Targets of electricity production by 2013 and 2015 are 7,000 MW and 8000 MW, respectively. According to the Perspective Plan, the energy mix for power generation is as follows.

ENERGY MIX OF THE PERSPECTIVE PLAN 2010 – 2025 FOR POWER GENERATION

Source: The Perspective Plan for Bangladesh 2010-2021.

ROLE OF INDIGENOUS FUEL IN POWER GENERATION

Energy Mix

Due to the low current state of primary energy resources, demand is not being met. In this context, the Government is formulating the “Five-Fuel strategy,” of which the priorities are given below.

1. Undertake immediate exploration of hydrocarbon and identify additional reserves that can meet the growing demand of gas by all consumer sectors.

2. Develop alternative commercial energy supplies suitable for power generation, especially coal, to ease the burden of fast-growing electricity demand on gas resources. Thus, a two-fuel (gas and coal) strategy is required for both resource diversification and energy security.

3. Ensure efficient use of energy by using energy–saving appliances, plants and equipment in order to effectively increase the stock of available energy supplies.

4. The resource potential of renewable energy is significantly larger than its present consumption and is a promising source of clean, convenient energy supply, especially in rural areas.

5. Considering the limitation of fossil fuel supplies, nuclear fuel could be a potential energy option for the country, as it is a proven technology for economic, reliable and sustainable electricity generation.

In Bangladesh, MoPEMR Power Division manages the electricity business. Under its control, power is generated by the BPDB, power plants that are departments and subsidiaries of BPDB, IPPs, and private power generation companies. Power is supplied through PBCB’s power transmission facilities to customers in local cities by BPDB, in the metropolitan area by DPDC and DESCO, and in rural areas by PBS. Note that distribution departments in local cities are being separated one by one. Fig. 1 shows the structure of the electric power sector in the country.

FIG1. Structure of Electric Power Sector of Bangladesh

GENERATION

In order to mitigate the demand-supply gap, an aggressive plan has been prepared by the Government for new generation addition. As part of the plan, 31power generation projects of 9361MW capacity are now under construction. Current generation capacity is over 12,000 MW as of 2016 and plan envisages add more than 8,000 MW by 2021.

TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

Total length of 132 kV transmission lines is 6283.228 c-km. The total length of 230 kV transmission lines is 3044.446 c-km. The total capacity of 132/33 KV sub-stations was 11520 MVA, 230/132 KV sub-stations was 8775 MVA and 400 kV substation was 500 MVA as of June 2015.

Table 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND INSTALLED CAPACITY

(1) Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

Source: Annual Report 2009-2010, Bangladesh Power Development Board

Annual Report 2011-2012, Bangladesh Power Development Board

Annual Report 2013-2014, Bangladesh Power Development Board

Table 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

⁽¹⁾ Net import / Total energy consumption.

Source: Annual Report 2013-2014, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government, FORUM: A monthly publication of “The Daily Star”, Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2010. Annual Report 2011-2012, Bangladesh Power Development Board, BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2014. Year: 2014 – Calculation from total energy consumption and total population.

The average annual growth in peak demand of the national grid was not up to the level of projected demand. The gap between projected demand and supply is increasing day by day. If the consumption present trend of continues, the gap will increase sharply in the future. As a consequence, the socioeconomic development will tremendously be hampered.

BAEC was established in February 1973 through the promulgation of the Presidential Order 15 of 1973. Since then BAEC has been keeping itself engaged in the planning and development of acquiring nuclear technology for possible peaceful applications in the fields of Food, Agriculture, Health, Industry and Environment ensuring nuclear safety and radiation protection. Accordingly, BAEC has undertaken a good number of R&D programs in its various research establishments and developed indigenous expertise to achieve self-reliance through national efforts and international cooperation.

FIG2. Current BAEC Organizational Structure

Bangladesh is evolving an energy-mix diversification, where nuclear energy is assumed as one of the choices to meet the growing energy needs. The IAEA milestone approach could be the best methodology and guiding tool for the development of nuclear power infrastructure of Bangladesh. In addition, international cooperation is required.

Bangladesh Nuclear Power Action Plan

In 2000, the government of Bangladesh adopted the National Nuclear Action Plan (BNPAP) for meeting the purposes mentioned below for early implementation of the nuclear power project in the country. The main purpose of this document is to identify:

• Various activities needed for implementation of the nuclear power programme;

• The agencies responsible for each of these activities;

• Enabling measures like funding, for conducting the activities.

Presently, Bangladesh is revising and updating the BANPAP according to national and International aspects of the nuclear power programme.

Table 6.PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

The plan for implementation of management system within Operator, Regulator and TSOs has been developed through promulgation of Nuclear Power Plant Act-2015, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Act-2012. BAEC recognizes the importance of implementation of management system and it has clear policy statement. A separate division, quality management division (QMD) has been established and assigned the responsibility. Management Systems of Project Management Unit (PMU) is established based on Annual Development Program (ADP) Project of Bangladesh government, which includes- Execution, monitoring, reporting, control and risk management, Communication.

For Rooppur NPP Project Management (present):

• Project management unit of Rooppur NPP (organization structure);

• Project implementation process of Rooppur NPP (PSC, PIC);

• Project monitoring process of Rooppur NPP (National Committee, Technical Committee, Working Group, Sub-group, fast track monitoring committee, fast track task force etc.);

• Reporting system;

• Risk management system;

• MS Project based PM and;

• Document Control System (Documents and works acceptance and approval procedure);

• Project management capability of PMU is being gradually updated;

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) has been appointed as the Owner Organization of NPP by

• the Presidential Order 15, 1973;

• Bangladesh Nuclear Power Action Plan, 2000,

• IGA between Russian Federation and Bangladesh, 2011,

• Nuclear Power Plant Act, 2015 and

• All other relevant policy documents

Operating Organization:

• Nuclear Power Company of Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) is the Operating Organization which clearly reflects in NPP Act 2015;

• Organization Structure is in place;

• NPCBL Service Rule 2016;

• Procurement policy;

Description of Project Management System

• Service Regulation: Implementing Organization of Rooppur NPP Project is BAEC;

• Project Document: Development Project Proposal (DPP) for Construction of Rooppur NPP (First Phase) is being implemented and DPP for main stage of Rooppur NPP Construction is being developed;

The present Project Management structure is given below.

FIG 3. Current Project Management Structure for Rooppur NPP Construction

Quality Management System:

• General Quality Assurance (QAP (G)

• Quality Assurance (QAP (S)

• Quality Assurance (QAP (D)

Quality Procedure:

• Document Approval Procedure

• Work Acceptance Procedure

• Equipment Acceptance Procedure

The Project Management Committee consists of the following members:

It is necessary to prepare a financing plan, which includes necessary infrastructure, all site studies and the construction of the plant, in the light of the signed agreement with Russian Federation, in order to estimate the actual cost of the implementation of Rooppur NPP Project. The terms and condition of the financial contract shall be drafted for the State Credit from the supplier’s country. In this case, the interest rate should be kept to a minimum. Apart from the State Credit, the part, which the Bangladesh Government will carry, shall be explored from different sources, e.g. Annual Development Project (ADP), soft loan, etc.

On 2 November 2011, the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh signed Agreement on cooperation for the construction of a NPP on the territory of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. An agreement was signed on 15 January 2013 between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the Russian Federation on the extension of a state export credit to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for financing of the preparatory stage for construction of a NPP in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The credit shall be used by Bangladesh during 2013 – 2016.

Bangladesh has a plan for a two-stage construction approach. The stages are as follows.

(i) Siting assessment to First Concrete

(ii) Construction and commissioning

The siting assessment to first concrete pouring for unit-1 will be finished at the end of 2016 and this will be done under a turn-key package. The first stage has four sub-phases.

- Feasibility Evaluation, Environmental Impact Assessment, site engineering survey

- Permit of the site license & detailed project report

- Design & Documentation (e.g. preparation of PSA, PSAR etc.)

- Excavation, Priority civil construction, erection

Bangladesh has analysed the funding and financing issues. Considering the size of national economy, a financing instrument consisting of a state export credit by the government of the vendor country for financing construction of the NPP must be considered. The national strategy on the level of intended borrowed amount has been planned and implemented. Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Bangladesh on the extension of a state export credit to the Government of Bangladesh for financing of the preparatory stage and construction of NPP has been concluded and the main terms and conditions for export credit for construction of Rooppur NPP has been agreed by both the countries.

Recently the General Contract for main stage construction and commissioning of Rooppur NPP was signed between Bangladesh and Russian Federation. The contract price is 12.65 Billion USD, 90% of which is supposed to be sanctioned by the Russian side through a state credit agreement, is also going to be signed very soon.

The members of the Working Sub Group are as follows:

The power generated at different power stations is transmitted through a national grid system (230 kV & 132 kV) operated and maintained by Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB). At present, the national grid system has the capability to handle a maximum load of about 10,000 MW. The grid-map of Bangladesh power sector is shown in the following figure.

FIG 4. Bangladesh Electricity Grid Map

The grid system of Bangladesh has a National Load Dispatching Centre (NLDC) located in Aftabnagar, Rampura, Dhaka. According to the plan, 400 kV transmission lines are going to be hooked up with the grid system in the near future. The 400 kV lines will mainly be used to import electric power from India. Some of the key parameters of the above grid system are given below:

As per the present power system expansion plan, the dependable generation capacity of the country will be about 12 000 MW against a maximum demand of about 11 000 MW in 2017. The installed capacity is projected to increase to about 33 000 MW by 2030. It is expected that by 2020, the contribution from nuclear generation will be about 2000 MW and by 2030, it will be increased to about 5 000 MW. Keeping all the above in mind the PGCB needs to take up measures to upgrade the national grid so as to make it compatible with the generation capacity of the country and in particular, make the grid ready for accommodating the upcoming NPP by 2023 and a second unit by 2024. For this purpose, detailed power system studies including load flow studies, transient stability studies, long duration system dynamics studies involving loss of generation, etc., have already been conducted and PGCB is going to make necessary modifications and renovations in the grid system to make it compatible for the Rooppur NPP.

SITE SAFETY REPORT OF THE PROPOSED ROOPPUR NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT

Bangladesh prepared a draft site safety report on Rooppur NPP in 2000. Recently, the Government of Bangladesh has taken steps to carry out several new site specific studies and also review/update the previous studies/data to finalize the site safety report. BAEC has conducted the following site specific studies of the proposed Rooppur NPP to estimate the specific safety parameters required for designing and constructing the NPP.

Site Specific Geological, Geophysical and Geotechnical Study of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project

1. Review of geology and fault information; Compilation of earthquake database; Analysis of seismic source and seismicity characteristics; Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (200, 475, 975, 2475 years);

2. 1D Site response analysis (Site specific) study; Development of site specific response spectrum;

3. Determination of liquefaction resistance by cyclic triaxial test;

4. Assessment of liquefaction potential of the site;

5. Supervision of Geophysical Investigation by P-S logging and

6. Analyses of Soil Stabilization and Slope Stability.

BAEC had made agreements with the Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and Ground Water Hydrology Division (GWH), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), to perform services in respect of above-mentioned study.

Summary of the Study:

• Tectonically Bangladesh is divided broadly into three (3) divisions :

• Stable Shelf (in the northwest),

• Bengal Foredeep (in the centre), and

• Chittagong-Tripura Belt (in the east).

• In addition, there is a SW-NE trending 25 km wide Hinge Zone separating the Bengal Foredeep from the Stable Shelf. The proposed NPP site at Rooppur is located near this Hinge Zone in the Stable Shelf part.

• During the last decade, the occurrence and damage caused by a number of earthquakes (magnitude between 4 and 6) inside the country or near the country’s border, has raised the awareness among the general population and the government. These earthquakes are located far away from the Rooppur site.

• There is no indication of surface faulting around the site;

Study on Site related hydrological and morphological characteristics of Ganges River in the vicinity of the site, and flooding effect due to global climate change impact and man-made major interventions

BAEC has taken steps to finalize a report on hydrological and morphological characteristics of the site area in collaboration with the Institute of Water Modelling IWM).IWM has already conducted the requisites of the site study, whose summary is given below.

• Global climatic change has significant impact at the project area from hydrology and hydraulic points of view (depth & extent of flood).

• There is no impact of tsunami at the power plant site.

• Due to construction of the proposed Ganges Barrage, the water level will be up to 17m PWD. The crest level of existing embankment and pakshey bridge guide bund is 16.5 m PWD and 16.7m PWD respectively.

• There is no hydraulic impact at the Rooppur NPP site due to the Gorai river restoration project.

• With a global warming scenario, it is found that the computed water level is over 18mPWD in the vicinity of Rooppur NPP site, while the existing embankment height is 16.5m PWD.

• Possibility of left bank erosion of Ganges River at Rooppur NPP site is insignificant.

• The recommended location for the intake point is 401177.95m easting and 659569.00m northing.

• The recommended location for the outfall point is 403952.90 m easting and 659543.00m northing.

The issue of Safety and Security of the Site

The issue of safety and security in siting, designing, construction and operation phases of Rooppur NPP has to be given top priority. The selection of nuclear technology is crucially important for Bangladesh. Since the Rooppur NPP Project site was selected earlier, the essential characterization of the selected site includes items that will impact cost. Moreover, it has become necessary to obtain an authorization or siting license from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority. Recently, Government approved a development project for completion of preparatory construction of Rooppur NPP. Initiatives have been taken for the development of technical and economic feasibility evaluation of the site for the NPP location and substantiation of the basic design solutions for the Rooppur NPP construction. The assessment of the Rooppur NPP environmental impact has been undertaken. Steps have been taken for finalizing comprehensive engineering and environmental studies for developing documentation for the NPP construction and assessment of Rooppur NPP site to confirm the acceptability of the site and development documents for the site license for NPP construction. Bangladesh has decided to involve the NPP design institute of the vendor country in the site characterization of Rooppur NPP so that the reactors must be complimented with the latest safety codes for severe accident prevention and capable of tolerating any severe man-made or natural events, namely earthquakes, floods, etc.

BAEC has been engaged in R&D in various fields of peaceful applications of nuclear techniques since the early 1960s. Introduction of nuclear power in the country has always been a priority area. Development of human resources for the programmes was initiated in the 1960s with the assistance of the IAEA, which is still on going. However, since it was not possible to implement the nuclear power project for different reasons, activities of the organisation were diversified to make them responsive to the development needs of different sectors of national economy. Activities now encompass the following areas.

1. Medicine: One Institute and nine Nuclear Medicine Centres have been established in different parts of the country.

2. Agriculture

3. Food and Medical Products

4. Industry

5. Radio-tracer techniques

6. Radiation Processing Technology

7. Vulcanization of Rubber Latex

8. Radioisotope Production

9. Development of nuclear analytical science

10. Research reactor: A 3 MW research reactor has been installed for conducting research, training of personnel and production of short-lived radioisotopes for medical uses. It may be mentioned that in spite of its being the first major nuclear facility in the country, the local participation in its implementation was significant. Appropriate research laboratories based on the reactor facilities, such as radioisotope production, neutron activation analysis, neutron radiography, neutron spectrometry for elemental and structural analysis of materials are being developed.

11. Exploration of nuclear and other related minerals: Prospecting of nuclear and related minerals is included in the overall programme of the BAEC. Surveys were conducted in the past in various regions of the country to ascertain the possibilities of finding Uranium and Thorium. This survey helped identify some areas where such materials are available at various levels of concentration. Extensive surveys, including drilling, are needed to ascertain the extent of reserves and the prospects of their mining on a commercial scale.

12. Tissue Banking and Bio-materials

13. Isotope hydrology

14. Element analysis by Van de Graaff and Tandem Accelerator facilities

BAEC's overall R&D programs are formulated in two distinct trains, namely (a) problems addressing the needs of national development and (b) basic R&D. Of these, the first group of projects is now being given higher priority. This will also be evident from the fact that vertical linkage of BAEC is provided through the Ministry and the Planning Commission, which ensures that national goals and development targets are featured in its programs and projects.

Over the years, the IAEA has been a partner-in-development in most of the leading BAEC institutes. This has meant a continuing relationship with various institutes at Savar and at AECD. Broadly speaking, the program at Savar covers research reactor commissioning and its utilization for isotope production, 1.85 PBq Co-60 irradiator, neutron activation analysis, and neutron radiography. Nuclear analytical facilities, and laboratories for repair and maintenance of nuclear instruments, have been established both at Savar and at AEC, Dhaka. Utilization of Van de Graaff accelerator at AECD was also supported by the Agency. NDT program at AECD and isotope hydrology at Savar, and food preservation, pest control, radiation sterilization of pharmaceuticals, tissue banking and agrochemical residue analysis at the Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, have also been well supported.

Bangladesh has not yet engaged with advanced nuclear technologies.

MEMBERSHIPS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Bangladesh became a Member State of the IAEA in 1972. It also became the 40th Member of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) in 2014.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Bangladesh is a party to a whole range of commitments to the international nuclear non-proliferation and verification regime, such as NPT, Bilateral Safeguard Agreement with the IAEA, the Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreement, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Please see Appendix 1.

PAST TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION WITH IAEA

BAEC operates under the MOST, and is thus an integral part of the scientific network of the country. BAEC has been the national focal point for the IAEA including its Technical Cooperation (TC) program, which so far has covered almost the entire range of BAEC activities, especially those, which have direct relevance to the national development agenda. The total assistance provided during the last 10 years (1991-2000) amounted to approximately US$6.885 million. More than half of this assistance (53.87%) was devoted to the human resources development areas, namely experts, fellowships, training courses, and scientific visits. The reminder was provided in the form of equipment and subcontracts. Area-of-activity wise, 88% of the assistance was provided in five areas, namely, agriculture (24.2%), application of isotopes and radiation in medicine (21.2%), nuclear engineering and technology (20.3%), nuclear safety (13.1%), and industry and hydrology.

ONGOING TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION WITH IAEA

The list of on-going IAEA TC Projects is as follows:

2012-2014

2012-2013

2014-2016

In Bangladesh, the acceptance of nuclear power is in general favourable, especially in and around the site. This is evident from the fact that, in spite of the inordinate delay and land being a precious commodity for the villagers, it has been possible to retain the land for the project for about four decades. The general perception is that construction of a NPP would create job opportunities and have other spin-off benefits for the residents. Moreover, back in the 1960's, the families affected by eviction were offered attractive compensation packages. Nevertheless, it is apprehended that opposition groups may be encountered as soon as construction work starts. An effective public acceptance programme has to be designed and implemented in order to enhance public acceptance. A well-equipped nuclear information centre is already fully functional in capital Dhaka, process of setting up of another one in the site is currently going on. Several public awareness programs have been conducted by BAEC and the Russian contractors, which include:

• Opining sharing with media people on 30 January, 2013 in Dhaka.

• Organization of an international seminar on “Nuclear Power: A Chance of Successful Economic and Socio-political Development” at the Hotel Ruposhi Bangla, Dhaka, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

• View exchange meeting with the reporters and local respectable and talent people 7 September, 2013.

• Arrangement of several opinion Sharing meetings in different times at Rooppur among the Hon’ble State Minister for Science & Technology, Science & Technology Secretary, Chairman and Scientists of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and the local people.

• Children’s art competition and information booklet distribution program on 27 March, 2016

• Site visit and press briefing with media people and journalists on 9 April, 2016 in Rooppur site.

Emergency Preparedness

Several committees have been formed involving relevant stakeholders to formulate the emergency management system during the operation of Nuclear Power Plant in the territory of Bangladesh. These committees have already held several meeting with national and international experts. The Government is also very much eager to develop a standard emergency preparedness system for the densely populated country.

Presently, the BAER Act 2012 was passed in the National Parliament on 19 June 2012 to develop the capacity of the nuclear regulatory body. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority was formed as a separate entity on 12 February 2013. This authority is responsible to regulate the use of atomic energy, radiological practices and relevant activities under the provision of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control (NSRC) Act, (No. 21 of 1993) and the NSRC Regulations 1997.

Based on INIR recommendations, initiatives for an appropriate nuclear infrastructure have been taken, including, among others, establishment of a competent and effectively independent regulatory authority with adequate legal provisions on nuclear safety, radiation protection, authorization, transportation and waste safety, nuclear security, handling and safeguarding of nuclear material and nuclear liabilities for transporting of nuclear material. The issuance of licenses for the different phases on NPP activities and regulatory supervision of the NPP will be the most critical factor. BAER Authority is preparing safety regulations and guides for issuance of individual permits or licenses for site, construction and operation of NPP, as well as import, transport, storage, export goods and services.

In order to obtain other nuclear related licences, an entity, shall apply for a licence to the Regulatory Authority in the prescribed form applicable for the specific class and practice, furnishing all pertinent information required by the applicable standard and guide.