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Nuclear reactor needed

M. Aminul Islam
Electricity production in Bangladesh at present is much less than the amount needed. Although the demand will keep increasing with industrialisation and urbanisation, it is almost impossible at this moment to increase the production of electricity. At present. 80% of electricity is produced by gas-driven power stations. The existing level of gas production in the country is inadequate for feeding any new power station.
It is not possible to run power stations with oil, which has to be imported at a high price. There is no scope for establishing any more coal-based stations, which have to be near a coal-field, or a hydroelectric power station which harnesses a strong Qowof water.
Electric supply through harnessing solar energy has limited
use in specific areas. Considering the present technology and the cost, its general use across the board is not possible. The prospect of wind-mills for producing electricity in Bangladesh is even bleaker. In the backdrop of this scenario, and considering the evergrowing demand for electricity, there is no substitute for a nuclear-power reactor for generation of electricity.
The fuel used in a nuclear power reactor is uraniurn-235 (enriched uranium). In such a reactor, energy is released in a controlled way from the fission (breaking into two fragments and neutrons) of uranium-235 atoms Fission is a nuclear reaction, the same reaction that takes place in an atom bomb in an uncontrolled way.
Energy released from the complete fission of one kilogram of uranium-235 equals that produced by burning twenty five lakh kilo-
grams of coal In a nuclear power reactor a coolant in a heat exchanger extracts heat generated in the core outside, where steam is produced. The steam produced turns the turbine of the generator, resulting in the production of electricity.
A small amount of uranium-235 can produce a large amount of energy in a nuclear reactor. In a coal-based power station, on the other hand, a huge amount of coal has to be burnt to produce the required energy. Burning of coal releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, polluting the environment and contributing to global warming.
The whole story is no different for other fossil fuels like oil or gas. Multifarious use of fossil fuels in exorbitant amounts, especially in the developed countries, is depleting the global fuel reserve quite fast. A steady supply of uranium, on the other hand, can be sustained globally for a much longer period. In addition, nuclear energy is clean as no carbon dioxide is produced.
As multiple precautionary measures are taken in a nuclear reactor, accidents are quite rare. In the long fifty- year history of these installations only one fatal accident took place, in 1986 in Chernobyl, Russia. This was, however, due to the faulty design of the reactor. Following this accident, worldwide concern prompted scientists and engineers to engage in designing absolutely safe reactors, and they succeeded. Besides, for decades there has been research on safe disposal and management of radioactive waste products.
At present, safe and convenient methods are available. Across the globe, there are 443 nuclear power reactors in 32 countries (there are 520 such reactors in 37 countries if we take those under construction into consideration). Nuclear power accounts for approximately 17% of total electricity generation in the world.
The history of nuclear power reactor in Bangladesh is a forty-five
year history of hope and despair -- a history of missed opportunities. In the early sixties, a site for a reactor was selected at Rooppur in Pabna, on the banks of river Padma near the Hardinge Bridge. As silent evidence there stand some unused buildings on 294 acres acquired land -- for the reactor complex, for the office and the residential colony.
The people of these lands were evacuated, compensation was paid and their rehabilitation in other villages was done After all these activities, could anybody even imagine that nothing would see the light there even after long four decades?
In Bangladesh, there have been scvcr.il techno-economic viability studies on nuclear power reactors. Many feasibility studies and surveys were carried out. The specific plans for the reactor were approved many times nationally and internationally. In order to secure financial assistance for the implementation of the project, negotiations with different countries were carried out.
The possible site, and the brand, class and power of the reactor were chosen. Although the prospect of
building the reactor was bright, the implementation of the project never actually started because of cither national or international reasons.
In the meantime, Bangladesh has been long preparing herself for the nuclear power reactor. Under the auspices of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, skilled and trained manpower was developed. Bangladesh passed the Radiation Safety Bill and signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Safeguard Agreement and other protocols.
Bangladesh signed bilateral treaties with many countries for peaceful use of atomic energy. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long been supporting Bangladesh for building a nuclear power reactor. IAEA is still eager to extend its helping hand to Bangladesh if she decides to have one.
There is no doubt that the initial cost of building a nuclear power reactor is high. I lowever, as its fuel consumption as well as fuel cost is low, it can be economically viable in the long run. Reactor fuel will be
available in the world market in the years to come.
What is to be done immediately
• It should be immediately decided who will build the reactor. Will it be the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, PDB or any other company7 If it is a company, who should have share in it?
• Who will finance the construction of the reactor? A soft loan may be taken from a donor country or organisation. Those who will supply and install the reactor may themselves be the investors. It is to be decided who will have the responsibility to look for financing and who will negotiate with foreign countries or companies. Those who will negotiate will bring up the whole matter to a final stage so that the government may consider signing of the treaty.
• Initially the reactor may nin a 1000-megawatt electricity generation unit. However, in phases, two more units of similar power may be added. In other words, our aim should be to harness 3000-megawatt electricity using
a single reactor. Reactors are of many kinds. We will have to decide which one will be the best for our country. There must be a constant supplier of the fuel U-235, and the supplier should have the responsibility of taking away radioactive wastes for disposal.
• Preparing a reactor tender document will undoubtedly take a long time. Without wasting time, somebody should start doing the job. Establishing a nuclear reactor needs clearance of many departments and offices. The unfinished task in this regard should be completed.
Establishing a nuclear power reactor will be a historic milestone in the field of energy and development in Bangladesh. It will be a bold step taken by the government. For energy security and development of Bangladesh and for the happiness and prosperity of the future generation, there is no substitute for building a nuclear reactor. The sooner we start materialising it the better for the country.
Dr M. Aminul Islam is a nuclear physicist and Vice-Chancellor, Shahjalal Universrty of Soence and Technology, Sylhet