US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3635

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003635 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR ANNE KOHNEN, NNSA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015 
TAGS: ENRG, ECON, MNUC, PARM, PREL, TRGY, TSPL, BG, CH, BGD Nuclear Energy 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESHI SCIENCE MINISTER WANTS NUCLEAR POWER 
PLANT; CONTACTS CHINESE 
 
 
Classified By: Acting PolEcon Counselor David Renz; reason 1.4(d)(e) 
 
1. (S) SUMMARY: Bangladesh's Minister of Science has told 
U.S. officials he wants to obtain a commercial nuclear 
reactor to supply electric power to Bangladesh.  No other BDG 
ministry has expressed support for Khan's proposal. Khan has 
also approached the Chinese with his interest in a reactor, 
creating an opportunity for China to supply nuclear 
technology to Bangladesh.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) During a meeting in June between Washington visitors 
Anish Goel, Marcella Szymanski, EconOff and the Minister of 
Science, Information, Communication and Technology (SICT) 
Moyeen Khan, the Minister requested assistance from the U.S. 
in obtaining a nuclear power plant and training for nuclear 
physicists.  On a second occasion, during a July 20 visit by 
EconOff to the office of C.S. Karim, the new Chair of the 
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Karim stated, 
without elaborating, that the Science Minister wants to 
engage in increased cooperation with the U.S. Department of 
Energy.  Karim later passed documents to EconOff relating to 
nuclear power reactors and research facilities. 
 
3. (C) Following the July 20 meeting in his office at which 
radiological security measures and a Joint Science and 
Technology Agreement between the U.S. and Bangladesh were 
discussed, Karim accompanied EconOff to her car.  It was at 
this point that Karim passed two English-language documents 
to EconOff.  The first detailed the features of a type of 
nuclear power plant available for sale in the U.S. that is 
compatible with Bangladesh's power grid and financial 
capacity.  The second document outlined U.S. laboratories at 
which Bangladeshi scientists might be able to obtain training 
in nuclear technology. 
 
4. (S) In this private conversation, Chairman Karim said that 
the Minister was also "working with another country" and that 
this other country "did not have peaceful purposes in mind." 
From the context of both the formal meeting and the 
subsequent private conversation, EconOff believes Karim meant 
to convey that Minister Khan had also approached China with 
his request to obtain a nuclear reactor.  Bangladesh recently 
signed a series of cooperation agreements with China, 
including one on the use of nuclear technology that is 
publicly described as being for medicine and other benign 
research pursuits, adding further context to the 
conversation.  Karim's cryptic reference to the 'other 
country' not having "peaceful purposes in mind" may have been 
a reference to dual use technology or a more general 
editorial comment to the effect that China's interests in 
cooperating with Bangladesh on civilian nuclear matters were 
less than altruistic. 
 
5. (S) The Minister of Science is a nuclear physicist by 
training and trade, having taught at Dhaka University before 
joining the BNP government.  He has reportedly fallen out of 
favor with the Prime Minister for poor performance with his 
portfolio.  Chairman Karim is also a trained and practicing 
nuclear scientist.  He is a frequent contact of EconOff from 
his days as a BAEC Board Member and his work to get DOE 
radiological security contracts approved by the Minister of 
Science.  Karim's recent promotion to Chairman of the BAEC by 
the Prime Minister's Office indicates that his star is 
rising. 
 
6.  (S) COMMENT:  Bangladesh faces a chronic shortage of 
electric generating capacity and the Prime Minister's Office 
is keen to obtain commitments for new capacity prior to 
elections in 2006/07.  Minister Khan may see obtaining a 
commercial nuclear power plant as a way for the Science 
Ministry to get in on this high profile issue, which 
principally falls under the Ministry of Energy, Power and 
Natural Resources. (Prime Minister Zia is also the Energy, 
Power and Natural Resources Minister).  Khan probably sees a 
reactor as a logical choice, given his background.  Karim 
seemed somewhat ambivalent about the idea of a nuclear power 
plant, but said that he felt it was good for Bangladesh, 
apparently recognizing the contribution it could make to the 
country's power generation requirements. 
 
7.  (S) COMMENT CONTINUED:  It does not appear that Khan's 
interest in a nuclear reactor has support from other 
ministries or the PM's Office.  Nor does Khan appear 
interested in non-peaceful uses of nuclear technology.  Khan 
has, however, created an opening for China to introduce 
nuclear technology to Bangladesh.  It remains to be seen 
whether China will seek to take advantage of this 
opportunity.  END COMMENT. 
CHAMMAS