Ambiguity over handling of spent fuel of Rooppur plant

NEWS report on Wednesday said uncertainty over whether Russia will take back the spent fuel to be produced in Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is likely to overshadow the sustainability of the project. The government has initiated the project to produce electricity when experts raise the controversy whether such expensive project, which is also technically difficult to handle by local managers will be in the country’s interest at the end. It has been a deep concern for both the countries – Bangladesh and Russia as there is nothing specific in the agreement of this plant concerning the handling of spent fuel. The current stand of Russia is to recycle the spent fuel of Rooppur Nuclear Plant after being movable. Then, Russia will send back it to Bangladesh for conservation and further use. But Bangladesh has no ability to conserve the spent fuel and make it useable as it needs huge expenditure and life risks, which is worrying.
 
The fuel used in nuclear power generation is primarily high-grade uranium, which is not used fully for nuclear plant. But unusable waste or residuary generates highly radioactive rods which require highest protective conservation with special care and more sophisticated measures. It is a big problem for nuclear countries and as local protest grows over dumping of such waste under ground, many of them attempted in the past to dump it in the sea. In our situation, Bangladesh has no capacity to conserve it properly that may make life and plants vulnerable. Experts said radioactive rods may pose serious long term threat to human beings and other spices. The toxic “lifespan” of spent nuclear fuel is about one million years. Without proper conservation the fuel’s intense radioactivity can kill a person within minutes or cause cancer in those who receive smaller doses. As the fuel ages, it begins to cool and becomes less radiologically dangerous. But radioactivity in some particles exists for many thousands of years.

The spent fuel is highly dangerous waste of the nuclear power plant. To conserve this we need sophisticated technology; which is not affordable for Bangladesh. What is highly frightening is that it also carries hazards for humans and environment. In this situation, if Russia disagrees to take back spent fuel, Bangladesh must take another project for its conservation for which the country has no technical and institutional capacity to undertake such a project. Consequently the inability of the country may seriously diminish the safety standards and make the country vulnerable to serious risks. In our view making the matter clear with Russia may bring positive result. We can’t leave any ambiguity to make the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant uncertain in future.