The Hindu : Front Page : “India can become a global player if deal is clinched”

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Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
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“India can become a global player if deal is clinched”

T.S. Subramanian

CHENNAI: If India became a part of the global nuclear community, “we can give a push to meet our country’s power requirements,” said S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), on Tuesday. The Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), which India could import if the 123 nuclear agreement with the U.S. came through, would help the nation achieve a higher share of nuclear power, he said.

“In such an eventuality, India will become a major player not only in the indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor technology but also in BWR technology” and emerge as an important member in the “supplier-chain” of nuclear components in the world.

He made these observations at a press conference at Kalpakkam after the safety vessel of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) was installed in the reactor vault. Mr. Jain is also Chairman and Managing Director, Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), which builds the breeder reactors.

Asked whether there was disappointment in the Department of Atomic Energy that the fate of the nuclear agreement hung in the balance, Mr. Jain said, “As far as the NPCIL and BHAVINI are concerned, the Government of India’s policy is our policy.”

The Indian industry was “euphoric” that it would get an opportunity, through the agreement, to become part of the international nuclear community.

On the natural uranium shortage leading to the capacity factor of nuclear power reactors dropping to 50 per cent from 90 per cent, Mr. Jain said in two years, when new uranium mines and mills are commissioned, this would be rectified. Trial production of yellow-cake from natural uranium at the new processing mill at Turamdih in Jharkhand was under way after the plant had overcome its teething problems. When the mill stabilised, it would double the production of yellow-cake, for fabrication into reactor fuel rods.

Work was in full swing at Tummlapalle, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, to start a mine for excavating natural uranium. This would be commissioned in four years.

Another uranium mine would come up at Gogi in Karnataka. Lambapur in Andhra Pradesh had a huge reserve of uranium but mining there had become embroiled in legislation.

In Meghalaya and at Lambapur, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited was trying to convince the local stakeholders about the environmental safety of uranium mines, Mr. Jain said.

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