Strengthening nuclear energy diplomacy for Bangladesh’s long-term energy security

Energy resources are fundamental strategic materials essential for a nation's economy, security and infrastructure. In today's digital and electrified era, control over energy resources and technologies dictates a nation's capacity to build resilient energy infrastructure, maintain economic stability and secure technological independence.

Very few countries are net energy exporters or run solely on entirely self-sufficient domestic supplies. True energy independence is rare. Energy diplomacy is a matter of absolute national survival for resource-constrained nations, acting as the bridge between domestic scarcity and external resources. Today's energy diplomacy is characterised by the challenge of managing the traditional geopolitics of fossil fuels while simultaneously navigating the emerging geopolitics that accompany the modern and green transition.

Energy diplomacy basically refers to a country's use of foreign policy to secure its energy needs, safeguard economic stability and manage geopolitical relationships. It allows a country to negotiate trade routes, build strategic alliances to ensure the continuous, reliable and affordable flow of power resources while balancing national security and economic prosperity. Energy diplomacy enables a nation to navigate the modern and green transition, secure clean energy investments, diversify domestic energy mix and shield domestic economies from global market volatility.

A newcomer country to nuclear power is fundamentally a geopolitical and strategic undertaking, not just an energy project. Because civil nuclear programmes tie a nation to foreign vendors backed by technology-holding nations for decades, robust nuclear diplomacy is essential to secure technology transfers, supply chains and nuclear infrastructural support for a nuclear power plant (NPP) facility's 60- to 100-year lifecycle.

Bangladesh's shift to a diversified, modern and clean energy mix hinges on maximising utilisation of atomic energy. It requires planning, developing and implementing a strategic vision for nuclear power, prioritising on-demand base-load electricity to insulate the nation from volatile global fuel markets and achieve energy independence. Nuclear diplomacy serves as a structural foundation for Bangladesh's energy sovereignty by achieving the nation's long-term roadmap, which envisions reaching 7,200 MW – 9,000 MW by 2025.

Bangladesh's long-term energy security depends on transitioning from imported fossil fuels to a sovereign energy mix focusing on rapid deployment of renewables. Due to limited domestic gas, unmined coal and very limited hydro-potential, base-load reliability must come from nuclear power.

Bangladesh requires a strategic vision for nuclear power development. It must be anchored by a model aimed at transitioning the nation toward long-term energy independence. The proposed country's three-phase energy roadmap targets a nuclear capacity of 2,400 MW by 2030, followed by a mid-term expansion to 4,400 MW – 5,000 MW by 2040, and a long-term goal of 7,200 MW by 2050. This strategy aims to stabilise baseload supply, reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, and transition the nation toward long-term energy independence by securing independence from imported fossil fuels.

The state-led framework should prioritise the following four key pillars to diversify and localise its nuclear capacity:

1. Rooppur NPP enhancement – Potential construction of two additional Generation III+ large-scale units at the existing site to maximise the utilisation of the on-site infrastructure, existing transmission grids and an experienced workforce;

2. NPP New Candidate Site: Broadening international ties to establish a second candidate site featuring two to three additional large-scale nuclear power plants (NPPs);

3. SMRs Deployment – Exploring the installation of 8 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to safely service smaller, decentralised power grids and industrial hubs

4. Advanced Fast NPP Technology Portfolios: Initiating investments in advanced fast neutron reactors for next-generation baseline resilience.

Establishing a domestic nuclear energy program involves complex international and bilateral collaboration to navigate nuclear safeguards, ensure safety protocols and secure long-term fuel supplies. Thus, nuclear diplomacy is the foundational prerequisite for developing national nuclear power, as civilian nuclear technology requires extensive international cooperation.

Nuclear diplomacy for Bangladesh is a two-pronged foreign policy approach focused on securing peaceful, civilian nuclear energy to drive economic growth while simultaneously advocating for global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. It balances critical infrastructure development with a constitutional commitment to global peace.

Firstly, the three core pillars of Bangladesh's nuclear diplomacy, namely energy security, geopolitical security and soft power that elevating Bangladesh's standing in international forums, particularly the IAEA, as a responsible, compliant and peace-centric nation and integrating nuclear development with global climate goals.

Secondly, the establishment of the mechanics of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) on diversifying technology partnerships. The IGAs establish the binding legal, financial, and safety frameworks between technology suppliers/ vendour countries and host nations, making them a foundational prerequisite for any domestic nuclear power program in the host countries. These IGAs provide the essential sovereign guarantees needed to secure foreign megaproject investments and ensure compliance with international non-proliferation standards.

Successfully executing Bangladesh's nuclear roadmap requires a synchronised, whole-of-government framework spanning bilateral diplomacy, regulatory strengthening and infrastructure investment. Aligning foreign policy with nuclear development is vital for securing stable technology transfer, financial backing and long-term grid integration through 2050

The field of nuclear energy diplomacy involves a diverse range of participants. In case of Bangladesh, coordinated support by a highly integrated network of government ministries is essential. The responsibilities are heavily interconnected, with the Ministry of Science and Technology overseeing the technological thresholds, nuclear safety regulations, and technical capacity-building required for large-scale NPPs and SMRs. The Economic Relations Division is responsible for managing vital external credit facilities, sovereign loans, and financial restructuring such as negotiating credit repayment terms and addressing fluctuating project costs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs securing formal intergovernmental pacts, navigates non-proliferation treaties and organises arrangements and partnerships with friendly experienced NPP technology vendour countries to broaden soft power and technical diplomacy.

Nuclear energy diplomacy provides developing nations with a vital lifeline to secure the critical investments, advanced technologies, and infrastructure necessary to combat energy poverty and build reliable, clean energy systems. As geopolitical shifts alter global energy markets, these dynamics simultaneously pave the way for new forms of strategic international cooperation.

Bangladesh officially entered the global nuclear club with the initial nuclear fuel loading at the first unit of Rooppur NPP. As the country transitions into the nuclear era, advancing its nuclear diplomacy portfolio requires IGAs, a localised regulatory framework and strategic partnerships for future large-scale NPPs and SMR projects.

Mohammad Shawkat Akbar  is the Retired Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.