It is well known to all that the present government is striving to solve the electricity crisis which has arisen from the shortage of electricity generation.

In our country, reserve of natural gas and coal which are necessary for electricity generation is very limited. On the other hand availability of fossil oil is completely dependent on import.

Import of fossil oil and coal also involves huge foreign currency. Moreover, because of utilization of natural gas in electricity generation, production in other economic sectors are being hampered. To meet the growing demand of electricity we need to increase its generation. It is indispensable for the improvement of the life style of the people. Keeping this in mind the present government of Bangladesh has planned to generate 10% of the total electricity from nuclear power by 2021. The government is working hard to implement this plan and it is one of the best efforts of the government.

The Necessity of Nuclear Power in Bangladesh

Necessity of Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh in now well recognized. Nuclear power is an Environmentally friendly and cost effective option for electricity generation. In this process there is no emission of carbon-di-oxide, a major factor for global worming and climate change that poses a killer threat to the whole of humanity. Nor it produces any harmful chemical that causes disasters like acid rain, depletion of ozone layer affecting bio-diversity. That is why this option is safe. From a nuclear reactor the amount of radiation released in the surroundings in 2000 years is almost equal to the amount of radiation absorbed by a patient exposed to X-ray machine for the purpose of medical diagnosis. Nuclear Power Plants involve very low fuel cost compared to the fossil fuel plants. The new generation nuclear reactors are more reliable and efficient than the earlier ones. New technologies have made them safer.

Generation of electricity from nuclear power is a dependable option. In this process a stable and easily changeable fuel-Uranium (135U) is used. The amount of free energy contained in nuclear fuel is million times higher than that of chemical fuel like gasoline. In Nuclear Power Plant is possible to generate more than 2000 kWh electricity by using only one gram of uranium. Whereas, several tons of coal is required for the same. Moreover, cost of electricity generation in this process in much lower than other conventional options. Though the initial investment appears to be high, it is a cheaper option in the long term.

Presently there are 437 nuclear power plants in 31 countries around the globe from where 14% of the total electricity is produced. 68 nuclear power plants are under construction in 14 countries. Establishment of 168 nuclear power plants in 27 countries are in progress which are expected to be completed by 2022. Among them 30 nuclear power plants will be constructed in the new comer countries, Bangladesh is one of them.

In Bangladesh, generation of electricity by using nuclear power will make a revolutionary change in the economic sectors and improve the life standard of the people as well. As a clean energy it will help protect environment from pollution. It will also make the people confident that “there is hardly any work that the Bangalees cannot do, if they strive.” It will also fulfill the dream of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman, materialize the untiring efforts of the noted nuclear scientist Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah and lead to the achievement of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Vision-2021.