Science and Technology Minister addresses ATLAS 2026 ministerial summit in Washington
Minister FM ANAM Urges Safe Civil Maritime Nuclear Deployment
- Focus placed on floating nuclear plants, advanced SMR technologies, and maritime energy safety.
- Reaffirms support for tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050 alongside RNPP unit-1 milestones.
- Bangladesh joins 20 nations at the inaugural ATLAS ministerial conference hosted in Washington.
Emphasizing the safe, secure, and peaceful deployment of nuclear energy to combat climate change and accelerate sustainable economic growth, Bangladesh has called for structured international collaboration on civil maritime nuclear applications. Minister for Science and Technology Faqir Mahbub Anam delivered the address representing Bangladesh at the inaugural 'Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) Ministerial Meeting 2026', held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.
The opening session featured key addresses by US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, bringing together ministerial delegates and technical leaders from 20 participating countries.
The Minister noted that expanding offshore civil nuclear applications and advanced Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) presents critical pathways to generate reliable, baseload low-carbon electricity. Given Bangladesh’s high population density and limited indigenous fossil reserves, energy diversification is essential for industrial resilience. He reiterated Bangladesh's endorsement of the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake framework and supported global initiatives to triple nuclear capacity by 2050.
Highlighting domestic advancements, the Minister noted that the physical start-up of Unit 1 at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) marked Bangladesh's operational integration into the global nuclear energy landscape. He underscored that adopting innovative reactor designs requires uncompromised adherence to the highest standards of safety, security, and international safeguards.
He characterized ATLAS as a strategic global forum unifying policymakers, marine regulators, and nuclear engineers, reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to collaborating with the IAEA to establish standardized regulatory frameworks and technical know-how for future floating nuclear power installations.
//DBTech/ZUP/MAP/SME//
