The Hindu : National : ‘Nuclear power must for energy security’

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Thursday, Sep 13, 2007
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‘Nuclear power must for energy security’

Special Correspondent

India must install fast breeder reactors: Chidambaram

R. Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: “Nuclear power is an inevitable option if the country is to meet its energy security needs,” said R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, on Wednesday.

This is all the more essential if the country is to make full use of its vast thorium reserves, he said, while delivering a special address on ‘futuristic energy sources’ at the 7th Non-Fossil Energy Summit organised by the India Energy Forum here.

Dr. Chidambaram said India must quickly install fast breeder reactors since their requirement was more here than in any other country. Highlighting the importance of using ‘closed fuel cycle’ in operating the nuclear plants, he said it was an essential part of the country’s three-stage nuclear programme and it enabled re-processing of spent fuel yielding substantially more power.

“The same amount of uranium, when you recycle it through fast breeder reactors, will give you 50 times more power and if you close the fuel cycle with thorium, it will give 600 times more power.”

“So if you want to optimally utilise nuclear fuel resources of the world uranium and thorium, you will have to close the nuclear fuel cycle. So, the importance of the three-stage programme goes beyond just building the first generation of reactors,” Dr. Chidambaram said.

He also highlighted the need for self-directed basic research, saying that this was necessary to help society in general in the long term and science in particular.

He pointed to the Rural Technology Action Group, a pilot project being run in Uttarakhand, which was formed to give a thrust to technological innovations. Under it, innovative youth had converted a traditional hydro-turbine used to grind flour into a micro hydel power plant.

R.V. Shahi, former power secretary, while supporting the need for more nuclear power plants, said care must be taken to tie up long-term fuel arrangements for such plants.

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