The Finance Division has disbursed Tk52.75 crore for the signing of the next contract with Russian state-run nuclear power equipment and service provider Atomstroyexport for the construction of the country’s first-ever nuclear power plant in Rooppur, Pabna.
Financial Division Deputy Secretary Sadia Sharmin signed circular in this regard on Wednesday. The disbursement is the fourth instalment from the fund for the nuclear plant allocated in the budget of the outgoing fiscal year.
Sources at the Ministry of Science and Technology said the contract, the fourth with the Russian firm, will be signed in a few weeks when a delegation from the firm visits Bangladesh.
The main construction of the nuclear power plant will start in the next fiscal year, they added.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, State Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman said: “A team of Russian state-run firm Atomstroyexport will visit soon to sign the next deal to build the nuclear power plant in Rooppur.
“We hope that the power generated at Rooppur will be added to the national grid in 2021, as per the government’s electoral promises.”
In the proposed budget for the FY2015-16, Tk1,028.92 crore has been allocated for further payment for the power plant’s construction.
Of the total amount, the government will provide Tk544.92 crore and the rest will be funded by the Russian government as per its export credit contract.
In his budget speech, Finance Minister AMA Muhith hoped that the nuclear plant as well as the Padma Bridge would be completed during the current government’s tenure.
He said it would be possible since the two projects along with six others have been placed under a fast-track project monitoring committee headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
