IAEA official to inspect Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on Mar 7 

A top official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit Bangladesh on March 7 to inspect the preparatory work of the country's first nuclear power project, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), before it begins the test run.

"After the IAEA's observation, we will proceed to the next step," Finance and Science and Technology Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed told the media.

According to the official, the test run will commence once the IAEA, the global watchdog for any atomic energy-related power plant, visits the project site and certifies it as a nuclear power plant built according to IAEA guidelines and national and international obligations.

In 2001, Bangladesh adopted a Nuclear Power Action Plan considering the role of nuclear power as vital for the country's long-term energy security and sustainable development.

"It had a clear understanding of the requirements for nuclear power plant construction according to IAEA guidelines and national and international obligations. Acknowledging the importance of an appropriate, phased, and comprehensive approach to the development of national nuclear power infrastructure, Bangladesh took steps to establish this infrastructure based on the widely used IAEA document 'Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power' (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-G-3.1). Accordingly, the nuclear infrastructure development activities of Bangladesh were divided into three progressive phases, outlining 19 infrastructure issues to be addressed in each phase," a senior RNPP official said, preferring anonymity.

According to current legislation in Bangladesh, namely the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory (BAER) Act-2012, the prime responsibility for the safety of a nuclear installation lies with the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).