Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to leave Dhaka for Moscow on January 14 for a four-day official visit.
During the visit, Bangladesh and Russia are expected to ink some crucial deals on the long awaited Rooppur nuclear power plant.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni visited Moscow in November to prepare the groundwork for the prime minister’s visit.
A powerful Bangladesh delegation went to Russia recently to settle the interest rate and other financial terms for setting up the nuclear power plant.
The government signed the final cooperation agreement with Rosatom of Russian Federation in November last year to build the plant.
Under the cooperation agreement, the Russian government will provide all necessary support and infrastructure development to construct the plant and supply necessary fuel to run the plant and also take back the spent fuel.
There is an agreement that Bangladesh would get $500 million for a study to determine the cost of setting up the power plant, officials said.
The two-year study includes design of the plant, primary construction and human resource training. Russia agreed to provide necessary funds for that, they added.
The primary cost for building the plant has been estimated at $3 to $4 billion.
State minister for science and technology Yeafesh Osman told New Age, a local newspaper, that Bangladesh had to undertake 62 tests for making the nuclear power plant operational.
In the last couple of years, at least 10 IAEA teams visited Bangladesh and Dhaka is actively engaged with them over construction of the plant, he added.
BBN/SSR/AD-29Dec12-1:30 pm (BST)
