The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will extend technical assistance and support to power-starved Bangladesh to set up nuclear power plants.

A three-member delegation of the Bangladeshi Government with nuclear scientists, headed by Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Information Technology SM Wahiduzaman left for Vienna, Austria recently at the invitation of IAEA, said a senior official of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).

According to him, the delegation will have talks with IAEA officials for three days from Wednesday for setting up a nuclear power plant of 1,000 MW. He said the plant would cost over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Russia, France and Korea and several other countries are interested in financing the nuclear plant, he added.

Bangladesh is among eight developing countries, which were approved by the IAEA last year to set up nuclear power plants. Two IAEA officials visited Bangladesh last year and they assured Bangladesh of technical assistance.