Technical Meeting on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process for Nuclear Power

Programme

Stakeholder Involvement and Public

Communication during EIA

Dr. A.F.M. Mizanur Rahman

and

Dr. Md. Khorshed Alam

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission

17 -20 May 2016, IAEA Headquarter, Vienna, Austria

Over view of Bangladesh

Population: 162 Million

Area: 143,998 Sq km

GDP per Capita: US$1,309

GDP: US$ 209 b

GDP growth rate: 6.4%

Total installed capacity:

12,372 MW

• Vision 2021: 24,000MW

• Vision 2030: 40,000 MW

• Vision 2041:58,000MW

Over view of BAEC

Vision:

Promotion of nuclear science and technology for

peaceful uses of atomic energy to achieve self-

reliance for socio-economic development of

Bangladesh

After a long feasibility study by Bangladesh Atomic

Energy Commission (BAEC), Government is going

to establish country's first Nuclear Power Plant at

Rooppur.

Over view of Rooppur NPP Project

Rooppur NPP site was selected

at the early 1960s

Preliminary feasibility studies

conducted in 1960s and in the

1977 - 78 and 1988 - 89 and

identified as technically and

economically

Location: Ishwardi upazela,

Pabna district.

Eastern bank of Padma River.

160 km north-west from Dhaka.

Construction area 260 acres and

total site area is about 1060

acres.

1. Practice with Respect to Stakeholder Involvement and Public

Communication for EIA in the Country- is the practice different

for EIAs for nuclear installations?

Two types of authorization will be needed for Nuclear Installation

such as:

1. Site Clearance from Department of Environment-Non-

radiological issues based on EIA report

- Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010) and Environment

Conservation Rules, 1997(Amended 2002)

2. Site License from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory

Authority – Radiological issues based on Site Assessment, FE and EIA

- NSRC Act 1997 and BAER Act 2012

2. Requirement to undertake stakeholder and public communication for

EIAs for nuclear installations in the country-Follow National Guidelines

and International Practice

Milestones approach: 19 infrastructure

issues in Nuclear Power Programme

1. June 2011 IAEA siting mission visited the

RNPP Site - Recommendations

2. 9-15 Nov 2011 IAEA INIR Mission visited the

BAEC - Recommendations & Suggestion

3. Based on R & S, IWP developed and updated

4. 10-14 May 2016 IAEA, INIR Follow up

mission visited BAEC and find out the gaps

3. Experience with stakeholder and public communication for EIAs

of nuclear installations in the country

I. “Bangladesh Nuclear Power Communication Strategy (2015-

2021)” approved.

II. Communication plan for year 2015 and 2016 developed and is being

implemented

Stakeholders Involvement and Public Communication

Bangladesh has a clear understanding about the IAEA guidelines and international

requirements for the implementation of NPP in a safe, secured and cost effective

manner.

4. Experts and Professionals

a. Environmentalists

b. Energy Experts

c. Academics and Professional

groups

d. Members of Friendship Societies

1. Policy Makers and Governmental Officials

2. General Public

a. Local People at Site Area

b. Young Generation

c. Household workers

d. Pupils & Students

3. Mass Media

a. The news media personnel

Identified concerns stakeholders during project management and future

NPP operator are

Stakeholders Involvement and Public Communication

Organized an international seminar on “Nuclear Power: A Chance of

Successful Economic and Socio-Political Development” - inaugurated by

the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 29 May 2013.

High officials visited Indian NPP

(Kudankulam) site in Oct, 2015.

Attended “New Generation NPP

Programme for Young”, four

journalists from Bangladesh visited

Russia from Sept 22-26, 2015 with

other Journalists from Asia, Europe

& Africa.

A meeting with local public and people's representatives in August 2010 Communication with Local Community

Interaction with Local People Including their Representatives

BAEC conducted survey on public acceptance/awareness for Nuclear Power

Programme.

Former Chairman of BAEC, Dr. M.A. Wazed Mia conducted meeting with local public and representatives in 1999.

Interaction with News Media Personnel at Site

Discussion on Nuclear Power Plant

organized by the Daily Star Newspaper on

10 May 2009.

Interaction with Local Journalists at Pabna

Correspondence with Media Personnel on 07 May 2016

Addressing to the Mass Media at Rooppur Site on 9 April, 2016

Interaction with News Media Personnel at Site

Round Table Discussion with Media Personnel

A round table conference on ‘What each Journalist should know about Nuclear

Energy’, 27 August 2014 at Public Library Auditorium, Pabna

4. Good practices or areas that have worked well

The presentation of the book

“Nuclear Energy: Questions and

Answers (Bangla)” was unveiled at

“Ekushey BOOK FAIR” on 26

February 2014. 17 representatives

of various media and 20 publishers

attended.

Distribution of Bangla Booklet and

Brochure on nuclear energy among

the school children, to create

general awareness in the future

generation.

Book on Nuclear Energy : Questions and Answers

Brochure on RNPP

Distribution of Bangla Booklet on Nuclear Energy at Different Schools

Art competition and photo exhibition among the children on

NPP and launching bangla booklet at Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre

The booklet is also distributed

among school student and

general public for easy

understanding of NPP

‘Power and Energy Fair-2015’ at

Bangabandhu International Conference

Center, Dhaka.

Photography Exhibition at Ishardi Town hall

at Dec 15,2015 on NPP.

Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah National Science Exhibition and Debate on

Nuclear Power Programme held at Public Library, Dhaka on 09 May

2016

To provide authentic information about nuclear energy to the local people, educate them

and encourage their participation by giving their opinions on various issues of nuclear

energy.

A blog (http://www.nuclearpower-bangladesh.com/) and a facebook page

(https://www.facebook.com/nuclearpowerbd?ref=hl), are posted with various

information, articles, photos on nuclear energy, Rosatom and Rooppur NPP activities.

Dedicated Blog and Facebook Page

Billboard at RNPP site: To convey positive information to local people about nuclear power generation and couple of

locations have been selected for erection of billboard around RNPP site.

5. Challenging Issues

The media of Bangladesh is very sensitive and they like to highlight

the minor issue when it has negative impact to society compare to the

positive one.

The general people of Bangladesh are very emotional and they follow

the politicians blindly on some issues without thinking any

consequence and finally which spread as rumor .

The country has a lack of an organized, systematic public information

programme.

Adequate number of human resources for public communication,

including training programme for communicators are not available.

Conclusion

1. Transparency and accurate communication is a key.

2. Public outreach is an important and evolving process.

3. “Positive Peer Reviews” and “Independent Endorsement” is of high

value to sustain national and international support.

4. International cooperation and support are essential for the

sustainability of the programme.

5. BAEC conducted survey on public acceptance about nuclear power

programme that clearly described the unique public acceptance level

of the project.

5/11/2016 M. A. Huq 24

Thank you all for

your kind attention