Published 2 minutes ago
Reading Time: 6 minutes
The uranium coming from Russia for the second unit of Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant could not reach the country on time.
Some people in Bangladesh are blaming Pakistan for this delay. He claims that Pakistan did not allow the flight carrying uranium to pass through its airspace and that is why this situation arose.
This matter has become a subject of debate, criticism and controversy in Bangladesh. Different opinions and comments are emerging regarding this on social media also.
The question is also being raised that despite the improvement in relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent times, why did Pakistan take such a decision?
What did Pakistan say on this delay?
In this matter, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider spoke to BBC Urdu correspondent Omar Daraz Nangiana.
He said, "This matter is about the technical and administrative process related to permission to use flight paths and airspace."
"In such cases, coordination is often required between aviation organizations and other concerned authorities. This may result in changes in flight schedules."
Meanwhile, the question is also being raised that due to uranium not arriving on time, will there be further delay in starting commercial level power generation from Rooppur Nuclear Project?
Skip to Most Read Skip to content
most read
finished
It is believed that due to the internal political situation of Bangladesh and the situation of electricity supply, the debate on this matter has increased further.
This incident has happened at a time when the power supply situation in Bangladesh is already very difficult due to fuel crisis.
There is a lot of pressure on the government due to increasing power cuts across the country.
In this situation, Bangladesh wants that the electricity generated from Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant should be connected to the national grid as soon as possible to deal with the power crisis.
But due to technical problems and lack of timely supply of uranium, there is a fear of further delay in starting production.
However, Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom has already issued a statement regarding the next program of supply of uranium.
Why is this issue so sensitive?
Transporting nuclear fuel from one place to another is considered a very sensitive matter around the world. For this, special rules and protocols have to be followed.
According to international rules, a flight carrying nuclear material has to obtain separate diplomatic permission from each of the countries whose airspace it has to pass through. This is called overflight clearance.
According to Rosatom sources, due to not getting permission to use the airspace on time, the flight carrying uranium for the Rooppur nuclear project had to be cancelled.
However, Rosatom has not officially named Pakistan.
After this, different reactions emerged on social media regarding the improvement in relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent times.
People are questioning why Pakistan took such a decision?
Amidst the ongoing debate, criticism and controversy in Bangladesh regarding this matter, BBC Urdu tried to get its side from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider told BBC Urdu correspondent Omar Daraz Nangiana that Pakistan takes timely action on all applications related to diplomatic flights and use of its airspace as per the rules and procedures of civil aviation.
He said, "The emerging reports show that the matter is related to the technical and administrative process related to permission to use the flight path and airspace."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson further said, "Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh."
"Therefore, this matter should be seen in its true technical context. Undue importance should not be given to such reports or claims, which may try to influence the relations between the two countries by misrepresenting the matter."
Delay in starting power generation
skip ahead podcast
Dinbhar: Same voice, new style
Big news from the country and the world that made headlines.
episode
finished
In April this year, the process of pouring fuel into the reactor vessel of the first unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was officially started.
But till now power generation has not started from there on a commercial level.
It was announced that power generation would start on a trial basis from September.
But the reality was that there was no possibility of getting electricity in September. Now it is not even clear whether power production will start by the end of this year or not.
Earlier this month, Bangladesh's Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mehboob Inam told BBC Bangla that the problem had arisen due to a malfunction in an equipment of the nuclear reactor.
This device is called Pilot Operated Relief Valve i.e. PORV.
He told BBC Bangla, "This valve related problem suddenly came to light in Rooppur. It is called PORV valve. This is what is causing trouble for us."
"Our scientists and Russian scientists are together trying to solve this problem."
Now the fuel for the second unit of this power plant has also not reached on time.
Therefore, the possibility of further delay in starting commercial power generation has increased.
However, Rosatom has issued a statement after the delay in the supply of uranium.
The statement said that the supply of nuclear fuel for the second unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will start in October 2026 and the process will continue till December.
Russia's state nuclear energy company also said that according to the terms of the agreement and the project schedule, this fuel will be delivered through several flights.
This means that the uranium consignment which was supposed to arrive in September, will now arrive in several phases between October and December.
Concern increased amid power crisis
This delay in reaching uranium has happened at a time when a huge gap has arisen between the demand and supply of electricity in Bangladesh.
There has been a decline in the import of LNG. Many private power plants have also been closed due to outstanding bills.
