DHAKA - Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday told parliament that her government would set up a nuclear power plant to meet the country’s growing energy demand.

‘We are taking initiatives to set up a nuclear power plant at Rooppur site,’ she said in response to a question from a parliament member.

According to a proposal prepared by the government, a 600-MW nuclear power plant will be constructed at Rooppur located in the country’s western region.

The UN atomic watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has already approved a Technical Assistance Project for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to be initiated between 2009 and 2011.

Currently, the country is facing power shortage of nearly 2,000 MW.

Sheikh Hasina’s government has a plan to increase power generation from 3,500 MW to 7,000 MW in the next five years.