China inspects Jamalpur site for modular nuclear plant

China has stepped up discussions with Bangladesh over the proposed installation of modular nuclear power plants, with a state-owned Chinese company inspecting a potential site in Jamalpur, officials said.
A team from China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) visited the char areas of Madarganj in Jamalpur last week after the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) identified four potential locations for the proposed plants.
“We have shown four separate locations to the Chinese side for establishing modular reactor power plants. They visited Jamalpur last week,” BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim told the media.
The BPDB has already signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with CEEC to explore the implementation of modular nuclear power plants, he said.
Under the plan, modular nuclear power plants 

with a combined capacity of 200MW to 300MW would be established at different locations in Bangladesh.
The Chinese team is also expected to visit Rangabali in Patuakhali to assess the feasibility of establishing a similar facility there, according to the BPDB chairman.
“If everything is settled, we will move towards implementing small- and medium-sized modular power plants with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology,” Karim said.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are nuclear power units designed on a smaller scale than conventional nuclear plants, with components that can be manufactured and assembled using modular approaches. The International Atomic Energy Agency classifies SMRs as advanced reactors with an electrical capacity of up to 300MW per unit.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for implementing modular power plants using nuclear technology.
Two small modular nuclear reactors are currently in operation in Russia and China.
CEEC is a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, a state-owned Chinese infrastructure group operating in more than 60 countries and regions.
The proposed modular plants would require further technical and geographical feasibility assessments before implementation, with support from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Rooppur progress remains unclear
The BPDB chairman has expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding progress on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project.
Karim said that the BPDB had yet to receive a clear picture of the progress of the plant’s first and second units.
“We don’t know what the progress of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 is, or the progress of the other unit,” he said.
Discussions have begun on a power purchase agreement (PPA) for electricity generated by the Rooppur plant. However, the tariff has yet to be determined, he said.
“We are still in the dark about the tariff of the plant,” Karim said.
The development comes as Bangladesh explores smaller nuclear technologies alongside its existing plans to expand nuclear power generation.