PABNA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday inaugurated the construction work of much-talked-about Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in the district.

She laid the foundation stone of the 2,000 megawatt (MW) NPP Rooppur at around 11:11am.

Planning Minister Air vice Marshal AK Khandaker, Science anf technology minister Yafes Osman, Statre Minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Sergey Kirienko, director general of Russia’s state-owned nuclear power operator, Rosatom and officers of International Atomic Energy Commission attend the programme.

Rosatom will build operate, provide fuel to the plant and ensure that the waste is taken away regularly to Russia, said sources concerned.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission will implement the project, total cost of which has been estimated at between $1.5 billion and $2 billion.

The RNPP is projected to produce 1,000 MW of electricity by June 2017 and another 1,000 MW by 2022.

During her visit to Russia, Sheikh Hasina signed three agreements and six Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with Russia in different areas including on construction of nuclear power plants in Bangladesh.

Russia assured Bangladesh of financial and technical assistance in this regard.

BDST: 1128 HRS, OCT 02, 2013
RS/BSK- [email protected]