Several inter-ministerial meetings have already taken place on who will handle the insurance for damages due to a nuclear incident. General Insurance Corporation said that they have the capacity to run the insurance. The matter has already been reported to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
General Insurance Corporation officials said that many people in the country feel that no local organization is in a position to handle such a large insurance. But this is a misconception. The operation of large insurance like Rooppur Atomic Power Plant will change the attitude of people towards local insurance. He said that this will also increase the credibility of the people.
Talking about the matter, General Manager of General Insurance Corporation Wasiful Haque told Prothom Alo that they handled insurance during the construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. He has experience in reinsurance with major insurance companies of the world.
He further said that the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited undertook the risk insurance of the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project in Sadharan Insurance Corporation.
Insurance worth US$12.65 billion was opened in 2019. As per the agreement, General Insurance Corporation will have to pay a premium of US$50 million in four instalments.
Meanwhile, officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology Affairs said that the nuclear fuel would arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by air and then members of the law enforcement agency would escort it to the project area. As per rules, the operator will be responsible for any damage caused at that time. Also, the company will be responsible for managing the insurance. But the government, if it wants, can bear the liability as NCPLB is a government company. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has sought its guarantee from the government.