Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Assessment of public knowledge, perception, and acceptance of nuclear power in Bangladesh

  • Md Iqbal Hosan (Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka) ;
  • Md Jafor Dewan (Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka) ;
  • Md Hossain Sahadath (Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka) ;
  • Debasish Roy (Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka) ;
  • Drupada Roy (Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka)
  • Received : 2022.07.04
  • Accepted : 2022.12.04
  • Published : 2023.04.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Public perception plays a crucial role in the successful completion of a nuclear power project. As a newcomer country to nuclear power, there are lots of misconceptions among the Bangladeshi people about nuclear energy. Consequently, it is crucial to minimize all the doubts among mass people and build up their positive outlook toward nuclear power. This demands a comprehensive survey to figure out the public opinion, concerns, false impressions, and knowledge gap regarding nuclear power. In the present study, these issues were addressed by a survey that was responded to by 661 persons for the 24 survey questions. The questions were categorized based on information, knowledge, faith, benefit, awareness, and technology. Feedback and responders' basic demographic and socioeconomic information were collected from various locations in Bangladesh through online and in-person surveys. The responses were analyzed in both statistical and descriptive ways. Some of the feedback was found to vary with age, sex, and education level while others were quite independent of these parameters. It is found that socioeconomic development and energy security can be achieved by the inclusion of nuclear energy in the power system master plan of the country. However, huge knowledge gaps and misconceptions were found among the public regarding nuclear energy. As per feedback, political instability and corruption may affect the national nuclear power project in Bangladesh. Low faith in the existing rules & regulations for nuclear power programs was also observed. The result of this study will be handy to develop the communication and public awareness strategy for a successful nuclear power project in Bangladesh.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the authority of the University of Dhaka for the sponsorship of the Centennial Research Grant, which helped to accomplish the research.

References

  1. V.M. Mourogov, A.M. Khan, H.-H. Rogner, V.S. Kagramanian, Prospects of nuclear power for developing countries, International Conference: Nuclear Option in Countries with Small and Medium Electricity Grids Dubrovnik, Croatia. (1998). https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/servlets/purl/307396. 
  2. M.S. Amin, M.H. Sahadath, Potentially dangerous radionuclides to be used in credible RDD explosion scenarios at the proposed RNPP site, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 168 (2021), 109550. 
  3. Power System Master Plan 2010, People's Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, 2011 https://policy.asiapacificenergy.org/sites/default/files/PSMP2010_reduced.pdf. 
  4. S. Ahmed, M.I. Hosan, A. Begum, A.F.M.M. Rahman, M.A. Razzaque, Q.M.I. Hasani, Public awareness and stakeholder involvement for Bangladesh's nuclear power plant, Energy Strategy Rev. 32 (2020), 100564. 
  5. S.N. Sadia, M.I. Hosan, S. Ahmed, Communal observation towards Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, Journal of Electrical Energy Systems and Energy Conversion 3 (2018) 1-13. 
  6. L.K. Putul, M.S. Islam, Public Attitude towards Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, 2nd International Conference on Innovation in Engineering and Technology, Held on 23-24 December, at the University of Dhaka. Paper ID 185, ICIET-2019. 
  7. H. Wu, L. Huang, L. Yuan, Da Wang, S. Wang, Young Chinese people's perceptions of nuclear power: connection with enthusiasm for information, perceptions of nuclear reactor technology and NIMBY, Prog. Nucl. Energy 141 (2021), 103964. 
  8. M. S. Islam, A. H. Khan, M. S. Rana, Knowledge, belief, and attitude of Bangladeshi youth toward the development of nuclear power. Nuclear Energy and Technology 7(2021): 271-283.  https://doi.org/10.3897/nucet.7.69414
  9. S. Tantitaechochart, N. Paoprasert, K. Silva, Public Perception of the Nuclear Research Reactor in Thailand, IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM), 2018, pp. 1471-1475, https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEM.2018.8607500. 
  10. M.C. Vladimir, A. Ocal, Y. Lyamzina, E.K. Noji, G. Milosevic, M. Jovanovic, Public risk perception of nuclear power in Serbia: fear of exposure to radiation vs. Social benefits, Advance, Energies 14 (2021) 2464. 
  11. M.P. Ram Mohan, S.K. Namboodhiry, An exploration of public risk perception and governmental engagement of nuclear energy in India, J. Publ. Aff. 20 (2020) 2086, https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2086. 
  12. T.S. Odonkor, S. Adams, An assessment of public knowledge, perception and acceptance of nuclear energy in Ghana, J. Clean. Prod. 269 (2020), 122279. 
  13. H. Taherdoost, Determining sample size; how to calculate survey sample size, International Journal of Economics and Management Systems 2 (2017) 237-239. 
  14. Denise S. Levy, Igor S. Passos, Education, and Communication to Increase Public Understanding of Nuclear Technology Peaceful Uses International Joint Conference RADIO 2014 Gramado, RS, Brazil, August 26-29, 2014.