Russia’s state-run nuclear agency, Rosatom, on Tuesday denied allegations of corruption and embezzlement tied to the Rooppur nuclear power plant project in Bangladesh, following claims by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission. The Commission announced on Monday that it had launched an investigation into accusations that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, and her niece, UK Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq, had embezzled $5 billion from the “overpriced $12.65 billion” nuclear plant.
“Rosatom State Corporation refutes provocative statements about the implementation of the Rooppur NPP project that have appeared in the media,” the agency said in a statement.
“Rosatom is committed to a policy of openness and the principle of combating corruption in all its projects and maintains a transparent procurement system. External audits regularly confirm the openness of the business processes of the project,” it continued.
The agency emphasized that it is “ready to defend its interests and reputation in court” and labeled the claims as “false statements in the media,” intended to discredit the Rooppur NPP project, which is designed to address Bangladesh’s energy needs and improve the country’s living standards.
Indian firms are contributing to the development of infrastructure for the Rooppur nuclear plant, a project led by Rosatom. It has been described as the first venture under an India-Russia agreement to carry out atomic energy projects in third-party countries.
