Prospect of green power generation by using nuclear energy in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is said to be one of the biggest energy starved countries, with the present demand for electricity at 9000 plus MW (Mega Watt) as opposed to the production of 6500 to 7500 MW. Access to electricity in Bangladesh is one of the lowest, about 40 percent of the total population are without access to adequate, cheap and quality energy. At present, we have to depend on indigenous energy resources, which are finite as well - gas, oil, furnace oil and coal to produce electricity. And about 55 per cent of our natural gas is used to produce this power. The reserve of gas is not infinite and will soon run out and before that happens, we must adopt alternative energy sources, be it renewable with a bio ecological/ green revolution or build nuclear power plants (NPP). Hence, the government recently decided to join the world's 30strong nuclear power club, signing an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Russia on November 2, 2011 for a nuclear power plant at Rooppur, Ishwardi of Pabna district, in the country's northwest region. This paper discusses about the prospect of green power generation in our country by using nuclear energy and find out if it is a proper decision to build a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.