Power target will have to be slashed if nuke deal fails: Kakodkar

Mumbai (PTI): If the Indo-US nuclear deal does not go through, India will have to slash at least 6,000 MW from its projected 20,000 MW by 2020 in the absence of international civilian nuclear cooperation, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Anil Kakodkar, said here on Tuesday.

Replying to a query whether the Department of Atomic Energy's projected nuclear power capacity of 20,000 MW will be scaled down if the Indo-US deal does not come through with the current uncertainties, Kakodkar said, "definitely yes. By at least 6000 MW."

"It is possible to realise DAE's projected 20,000 MW by 2020 only if there is international civil nuclear cooperation," Kakodkar told the media on the sidelines of the 98th Founder's celebration of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

In mid 1990s, DAE had projected an ambitious programme 20,000 MW keeping in mind 10,000 MW from Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor programme, 2500 MW from Fast Breeder reactors and 8,000 MW from imported Light Water Reactors (especially from Russia).

Even at that time (mid 1990s), 8000 MW was planned from the Russian nuclear cooperation. But although Russians are still interested in giving that much, unless the current international politics is set right, it may not be possible, Kakodkar said.

Kakodkar said "it is important to set the international politics right to enhance the international cooperation in nuclear power programmes. This has to be carried out through diplomatic channels, he said.

Asked whether India could get fuel from any non-nuclear suppliers' group countries, he said "yes, we can but we have to set right the international politics first."

Delivering the founder's day speech, Kakodkar said Homi Bhabha himself was in favour of import of reactors and used the external cooperation to leap frog to realise enhancement of domestic capability.

"Self reliance did not mean isolating ourselves but rather keeping several options including `do-it-yourself' option at hand so that the country is not subject to vulnerabilities of any kind," Kakodkar said.

Talking about the uranium exploration programme, he said "our current challenge is to augment uranium production to match the needs of operating power reactors."

Opening of new mines is a time-consuming, he added. and efforts of last six to seven years have resulted in opening of new mines at Turamdih in Jharkhand and Banduhurang in Andhra Pradesh and starting of a new uranium processing mill at Turamdih.

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