China Proposes 100MW Nuclear Power Plant in Mongla
The plant would mainly supply electricity to the economic zone, while any surplus power could be sold to Bangladesh and fed into the national grid.
China has proposed constructing a 100-megawatt Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant near the planned Chinese Economic Zone in Mongla, Bagerhat, in what could become Bangladesh’s first SMR project.
The proposed facility would mainly supply electricity to the economic zone, while excess power could be sold to Bangladesh and fed into the national grid.
The initiative comes as Bangladesh looks to expand its nuclear energy programme beyond the 2,400MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is being developed with Russian support.
The proposal also follows Bangladesh’s recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
SMRs are smaller and more flexible than conventional nuclear plants and are generally designed to offer easier deployment. China, Russia and the United States are among the countries advancing SMR technology.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh had taken an initial decision to explore SMR technology and was in discussions with several countries.
“We need to learn more about SMRs. We are interested in them. But we will make a decision after understanding them better,” he said.
The minister, however, said he had not yet received the details of the specific Chinese proposal for Mongla. The proposal was discussed in the second week of August during a meeting between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) and a Chinese delegation.
Eight representatives from Bangladesh and eight officials from state-owned China National Nuclear Cooperation Overseas Limited took part in the meeting.
Four Chinese experts presented information on various aspects of SMR technology and sought Bangladesh’s views on the proposed project.
An official who attended the meeting said preliminary discussions included a proposal for Bangladesh to provide land for the project at no cost.
The government may also consider waiving import duties on machinery and other equipment needed for the plant, the official said.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, proposed employing local workers at the facility to build domestic expertise in SMR technology.
It also asked China to construct a bridge over the Mongla River as part of the proposed project.
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