Airspace issue delays uranium shipment for RNPP to Dhaka

Bangla Press Desk: The uranium to be used as fuel for the second unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) could not reach Dhaka on Thursday due to air space issues.

Although all preparations had been taken at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to receive the fuel, the cargo flight carrying it did not reach Dhaka.

Wishing to be unnamed, an official from the Ministry of Science and Technology said, “We had taken all preparations. We were waiting at the airport. We even contacted a liaison officer of Rosatom as the cargo flight carrying uranium did not reach the airport, who said the fuel did not arrive as the air space was not clear.”

However, the official could not tell why Rosatom did not get permission to use the airspace.

The RNPP is being built with assistance from Rosatom, Russia’s official nuclear agency.

No response from Rosatom could be obtained till Thursday midnight despite contacting a representative of the agency.  
BP/TD