Yeafes off to Moscow to talk 'spent fuel' issue

Minister for Science and Technology Yeafes Osman flew to Russia on Saturday to discuss the much-talked about 'taking back of spent fuel' issue.
 Earlier, Russia agreed to remove the spent fuel of the reactors and take back the highly radioactive rods once they have completed their 'life-cycle' to their country safely from the proposed Rooppur nuclear power plant. However, they now want to sign an agreement on 'importing spent fuel from Bangladesh,' according to the sources in the Ministry.As per discussions between the two leaders Sheikh Hasina and Vladimir Putin, the spent fuel will be taken back to Russia and the recycling will be done there. Russia will supply necessary fuel for the reactors during its life-span (60 years) and take back the spent fuel.
"At the meeting, we will fix up the modality of this agreement and the carrying cost of spent fuel will be discussed there," a senior official of BAEC told the Daily Observer preferring anonymity on Saturday.
This shifting position of Moscow will increase the cost of the proposed nuclear power project, which is a US$$13 billion plus project, according to the sources in the Science and Technology Ministry.
"At the meeting, we will fix the modality of this agreement and the carrying cost of spent fuel will be discussed there," a senior official of BAEC said.
 Bangladesh is going to build a nuclear power plant, using Uranium 235 as the reactor fuel at the proposed plant. However, the waste products of Uranium can become dangerous and fatal.
The Science and Technology Ministry will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia and India for smooth implementation of the RNPP.
Last July, Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India in this regard.
The Ministry has convened an inter-ministerial meeting on November 6 to finalise the draft titled "India-Russia-Bangladesh cooperation MoU for successful implementation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project".
As per the MoU, India intends to provide all kinds of cooperation, including the security of this project through a tripartite agreement with Bangladesh and Russia.
According to sources, India intends to provide all kinds of cooperation, including the security of this project through a tripartite MoU with Bangladesh and Russia. The country has given Bangladesh a draft of the tripartite MoU in September and Bangladesh also is reviewing the draft taking it positively.
"In line with this we received a draft titled, "India-Russia-Bangladesh cooperation MoU for successful implementation of the RNPP project," all three parties will sit in Moscow in the last week of November," the Minister said.
Through this MoU, India will take over the operational control on RNPP and engage their experience scientists here to develop human resources to run the RNPP, a senior official said.