India plays major role in nuclear plant in Bangladesh

India is playing a substantive role in building a nuclear power plant on foreign soil for the first time ever with the proposed supply of equipment and material for the power station being built by Bangladesh with Russian assistance.

At the recent 61st general conference of International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, top Indian officials announced Indian firms are working with Russian and Bangladeshi partners on establishing Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh. India will supply and manufacture equipment, material for the plant near Dhaka, said persons familiar with the issue.

Besides Bangladeshi nuclear scientists are undergoing training at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, also built with Russian assistance and uses Russian technology.

This will be India's first atomic energy venture abroad. As per the December 2014 'Strategic Vision for Strengthening Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy' between India and Russia, the "two sides will explore opportunities for sourcing materials, equipment and services from Indian industry for the construction of the Russian- designed nuclear power plants in third countries."