Science and Technology Affairs Minister Yeafesh Osman yesterday said that the installation cost of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is higher compared to that in India, as Bangladesh is new in implementing such project.

He also mentioned a number of reasons behind the high cost of the power plant compared to Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in India.

The minister made the statement while responding to a tabled starred question from BNP MP Rumeen Farhana in the parliament. In her

question, Rumeen said that the capital expenditure of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is Tk 45,000 crore higher than that of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in India.

Yeafesh said the infrastructural expenditure of nuclear power plant in Bangladesh is higher than that in India as the country is new in setting up nuclear power plant.

"India has been operating and managing nuclear power plants for more than 50 years. As a result, they are self-sufficient in setting up these power plants," he said.

He mentioned that currently 22 nuclear reactors are operating in India.

The minister said that cost of each nuclear power plant depends on project site and location, type of reactor technology, project management approach and contractual obligation, fund and financing scheme of the project, national infrastructure to support nuclear power plant and licensing and legal aspects.

He also said that it was tough to compare a nuclear power plant with another due to differences of above-mentioned matters.

He also mentioned that the soil condition of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project area was made usable for

implementing a nuclear power plant. Steps like shore protection was taken as it is situated on the bank of Padma - increasing the cost of RNPP. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant did not need this site specific engineering, he added.

He said that advanced study on site specific parameters of RNPP like managing earthquake, flood, ecological and other disasters were done.

Fourth session of the current parliament will continue till September 12.

The decision came at the meeting of Business Advisory Committee of current parliament, held on Sunday.