Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia for a nuclear power

Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia to develop a plan for a nuclear
power plant to produce up to 1,000 megawatts to ease its energy
shortage, a senior energy official said on Wednesday.

The project, which may cost between $1.5 billion and $2.0 billion,
aims to produce power by 2014, said Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, adviser
to the prime minister on power, energy and mineral resources..

A delegation from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission will visit
Russia next month to develop technical expertise, he said.

"With the signing of the memorandum of understanding we have
diversified the sources for producing electricity," Tawfiq told
reporters after signing the deal.

Bangladesh laws allow the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said.

Growing concern over a shortage of power led Bangladesh to consider
nuclear as natural gas reserves were fast depleting.

The gap between demand and supply of natural gas will be wider after
2011 unless new gas fields are discovered and explored, energy
officials said.

Bangladesh has 13.54 trillion cubic feet of proven and recoverable gas
reserves but faces up to 250 million cubic of gas shortages a day,
they said.

Bangladesh's electricity shortfall can reach 2,000 MW due to power
plants which are up to 60 years old.