Friday, Aug 13, 2004
Friday, Aug 13, 2004 |
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By Y. Mallikarjun
C. Ganguly
HYDERABAD, AUG. 12. India should find a political solution to access latest reactor technology and uranium in international market even while steadfastly adhering to its stated position on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), says the outgoing Chairman of the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), C. Ganguly, who has been appointed the chief of Nuclear Fuel Cycle (NFC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna. Dr. Ganguly, who would be taking up the prestigious assignment next week, has stressed the need for finding a political solution through diplomacy if India has to expand its nuclear power programme in a big way. "Better buy uranium abroad if you can get it cheaper and not waste time by rediscovering the wheel." Foreign companies should also be allowed to undertake mining and produce uranium in the country by amending the laws, if necessary, and as a quid pro quo India should buy from them at a lesser rate than the prevailing international market price.
Main objective
Talking to The Hindu here on Wednesday, the noted nuclear fuel scientist said that one of his aims would be to see that the know-how for producing nuclear energy was passed on from the developed to the developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. At Vienna, he would be overseeing the implementation of IAEA `Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycle Programme (INPRO)' and US-initiated Generation IV International Forum (GIF). The objective of both the programmes was to utilise nuclear reactors for producing electricity, hydrogen fuel economically (to be used for all types of transportation), and desalination of seawater. India and 13 other countries are partners in INPRO while GIF has ten participants, including UK and USA. The INPRO seeks to ensure that the nuclear power programme in the 21st century is sustainable, economical, proliferation resistant and safe and at the same time solve waste and environmental problem.
Reactor design
He said the future reactors and fuel cycle operation should be designed in such a way that the fissile material could not be diverted for `non-peaceful purposes'. The reactor design would have inherent proliferation-resistance. He said the biggest concern after the 9/11 attacks was to ensure that the reactors of tomorrow were proliferation-resistant. In the meantime the IAEA had taken up the evaluation of three reactors in India, Argentina and Russia to find out if they meet the INPRO guidelines. The 300 MWe Advanced Heavy Water Reactor in India, BN-800 Fast Breeder Reactor in Russia and a medium-sized 150-300 MWe Light Water Reactor in Argentina were being analysed as a `test case' on the war footing, he said. Dr. Ganguly said the first set of reactors, based on INPRO guidelines, were expected to be commercialised by 2025.
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