Siting of Potential Areas for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Using Geographic Information System and Analytical Hierarchy Process: A Case Study on South Central and Southeastern Parts of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is planning to construct its second nuclear power plant (NPP) to improve its energy mix to mitigate the long-lasting energy crisis. From this perspective, this study aims to determine potential areas for the construction of a NPP in the south-central and southeastern parts of Bangladesh using a geographic information system (GIS) and the analytical hierarchy process. The analysis utilized 6 main data criteria, 22 sub-criteria, and 5 sub-sub-criteria. These factors ensure plant safety, environmental protection, and sustainable development. A suitability map of each sub-criterion and sub-sub-criterion was prepared according to a scale of 0 through 5, where 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 indicate excluded area, completely unsuitable area, unsuitable area, moderately suitable area, suitable area, and most suitable area, respectively, which were utilized to create a suitability map of each criterion. Finally, GIS-based overlay analysis, among the suitability maps of main data criteria, indicates 1112.42 km² as the most suitable area from the study area, which consists of 43 potential areas for the establishment of a NPP. This study may facilitate policymakers in choosing a suitable site for establishing a NPP in the region under study and abroad.