DHAKA: Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation ROSATOM has plans to construct 24 new nuclear power units equipped with VVER reactors by 2030 in several countries including Bangladesh.

ROSATOM subsidiary Rusatom Overseas vice president Jukka Laaksonen disclosed this at the 2nd European Nuclear Power Briefing 2013 held between September 22 and 25 in Budapest, Hungary.

The Budapest meeting discussed prospects of increasing share of nuclear power in the new European Union member countries, according to media reports.

Under an agreement with the Bangladesh government ROSATOM will set up modern VVER reactors at the Rooppur NPP.

Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to lay the foundation stone of Rooppur NPP on October 2.

Laaksonen said that in 2013 there are 68 VVER plants in operation or under construction in 11 countries and the total operating experience is close to 1,500 reactor years.

The new generation of pressurised water reactors designed by Russian engineers, will meet the strict post-Fukushima safety requirements.

The vice president noted that in order to guarantee the maximum safety level ROSATOM cooperates with international organisations such as the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Association of Nuclear Power Operators (WANO).

The ROSATOM offers its partners not only the design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants, but also a full range of products and services of the nuclear fuel cycle as well as NPP decommissioning.

BDST: 0019 HRS, SEPT 27, 2013
RoR/