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145632
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 17:34
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India voices readiness to share experience in Nuke technology
New Delhi, Oct 11, IRNA - India stands ready to share its experience in nuclear science and technology on a mutually acceptable basis, Minister of state for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan said Sunday.
Its indigenous 220 MW and 540 MW capacity pressurised heavy water reactors are available for export to countries within the ambit of international framework, Chavan said.
Nuclear fleet expansion should not be constrained by limits on materials supply and component manufacturing capacity, said the Indian minister at the inaugural session of the 'Asian Nuclear Prospects' (ANUP-2010).
The gathering was organized by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in association with Indian Nuclear Society and International Atomic Energy Agency at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, pti reported.
'It is important that the industries plan their expansion in advance and in a timeframe to meet growth targets of nuclear power.
One also needs to focus on systematic and comprehensive human resource development to build a team of high quality professionals in nuclear research, engineering design, construction and operation to meet the needs of rapid developments of nuclear energy', he said.
On nuclear safety, the minister said it was a matter of great satisfaction that both IAEA and World Association of Nuclear Operators have taken a number of steps to improve safety performance.
Spent fuel and radioactive waste management, proliferation concerns of nuclear materials and security of nuclear installations were challenging tasks faced by nuclear power countries world over, he said.
Referring to nuclear power scenario in India, he said it presently contributes less than three per cent of total power generation.
'In terms of installed capacity, our current base of 4.5 gw in a total capacity of 164 gw, is about two per cent', he said adding 'the share of nuclear power is expected to grow to over ten per cent in the next 20 yers.'
He said looking beyond a few decades from now, fast reactors could be contributing a significant portion of nuclear power in many Asian countries, particularly in India and China.
Stating that there were 440 nuclear reactors in operation in 30 countries supplying over 14 per cent of the world's power, he said 'presently, nuclear power has been deployed in a large measure in US, Russia, Western Europe, Japan, South Korea and Canada.'
Y A Sokolov, Deputy Director General, IAEA, said over 60 countries have talked to the IAEA about helping them understand the nuclear power.
'Current expansion remains centered in Asia. Of the twelve construction (on nuclear reactors) started in 2009, ten were in Asia, Sokolov said adding that China’s target is 40 GW of nuclear power capacity in 2020, compared to 8.4 GW today.
India plans potentially to install 470 GW by 2050', he said.
The current available supply of uranium meets current and projected demand. Uranium mining takes place in 19 countries, with eight countries accounting for 93 per cent of world capacity, he said.
The latest estimate of uranium resources shows that the identified conventional uranium resources of 6.3 million tonnes (Mt U) continue to grow and are adequate to supply the present demand for almost 100 years, he said.
Responding to the growing interest of countries to start nuclear power programmes, there are many efforts to provide these countries support on bilateral, multilateral and international levels, but there is something of a disconnect between these efforts and efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the nuclear power, he said.
'There is a need, in planning nuclear programmes, to keep in focus the eventual goal of making nuclear power sustainable. And our inward satisfaction with, and expectations for, the expansion of nuclear power should not divert our attention from the ultimate goal of sustainable nuclear power', he said.
There was a moral obligation of experienced countries and international organisations to ensure that assistance for the expansion of nuclear power is accompanied by efforts to make the nuclear option sustainable for newcomers, he added.
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Srikumar Banerjee, said a major issue for nuclear power generator was the waste management.
'We have to find a permanent solution to nuclear waste management', he said.
He said nuclear energy would not be suitable for transport industries. Hydrogen is the future source of energy for all moving vehicles. 'We need many scientists to work on this subject', he said.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd CMD, S.K.Jain, said by March 2012 India would launch work on 12 reactors including 700MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs).
“Beyond 2012 work will begin on 12 reactors consisting of light water reactors (LWR) and two fast breeder reactors. At a time we will be building around 25 reactors,” he said.
Driving the nuclear renaissance in the Asian continent is the low per capita consumption of power and also the necessity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, said R.Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India./end
Its indigenous 220 MW and 540 MW capacity pressurised heavy water reactors are available for export to countries within the ambit of international framework, Chavan said.
Nuclear fleet expansion should not be constrained by limits on materials supply and component manufacturing capacity, said the Indian minister at the inaugural session of the 'Asian Nuclear Prospects' (ANUP-2010).
The gathering was organized by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in association with Indian Nuclear Society and International Atomic Energy Agency at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, pti reported.
'It is important that the industries plan their expansion in advance and in a timeframe to meet growth targets of nuclear power.
One also needs to focus on systematic and comprehensive human resource development to build a team of high quality professionals in nuclear research, engineering design, construction and operation to meet the needs of rapid developments of nuclear energy', he said.
On nuclear safety, the minister said it was a matter of great satisfaction that both IAEA and World Association of Nuclear Operators have taken a number of steps to improve safety performance.
Spent fuel and radioactive waste management, proliferation concerns of nuclear materials and security of nuclear installations were challenging tasks faced by nuclear power countries world over, he said.
Referring to nuclear power scenario in India, he said it presently contributes less than three per cent of total power generation.
'In terms of installed capacity, our current base of 4.5 gw in a total capacity of 164 gw, is about two per cent', he said adding 'the share of nuclear power is expected to grow to over ten per cent in the next 20 yers.'
He said looking beyond a few decades from now, fast reactors could be contributing a significant portion of nuclear power in many Asian countries, particularly in India and China.
Stating that there were 440 nuclear reactors in operation in 30 countries supplying over 14 per cent of the world's power, he said 'presently, nuclear power has been deployed in a large measure in US, Russia, Western Europe, Japan, South Korea and Canada.'
Y A Sokolov, Deputy Director General, IAEA, said over 60 countries have talked to the IAEA about helping them understand the nuclear power.
'Current expansion remains centered in Asia. Of the twelve construction (on nuclear reactors) started in 2009, ten were in Asia, Sokolov said adding that China’s target is 40 GW of nuclear power capacity in 2020, compared to 8.4 GW today.
India plans potentially to install 470 GW by 2050', he said.
The current available supply of uranium meets current and projected demand. Uranium mining takes place in 19 countries, with eight countries accounting for 93 per cent of world capacity, he said.
The latest estimate of uranium resources shows that the identified conventional uranium resources of 6.3 million tonnes (Mt U) continue to grow and are adequate to supply the present demand for almost 100 years, he said.
Responding to the growing interest of countries to start nuclear power programmes, there are many efforts to provide these countries support on bilateral, multilateral and international levels, but there is something of a disconnect between these efforts and efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the nuclear power, he said.
'There is a need, in planning nuclear programmes, to keep in focus the eventual goal of making nuclear power sustainable. And our inward satisfaction with, and expectations for, the expansion of nuclear power should not divert our attention from the ultimate goal of sustainable nuclear power', he said.
There was a moral obligation of experienced countries and international organisations to ensure that assistance for the expansion of nuclear power is accompanied by efforts to make the nuclear option sustainable for newcomers, he added.
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Srikumar Banerjee, said a major issue for nuclear power generator was the waste management.
'We have to find a permanent solution to nuclear waste management', he said.
He said nuclear energy would not be suitable for transport industries. Hydrogen is the future source of energy for all moving vehicles. 'We need many scientists to work on this subject', he said.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd CMD, S.K.Jain, said by March 2012 India would launch work on 12 reactors including 700MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs).
“Beyond 2012 work will begin on 12 reactors consisting of light water reactors (LWR) and two fast breeder reactors. At a time we will be building around 25 reactors,” he said.
Driving the nuclear renaissance in the Asian continent is the low per capita consumption of power and also the necessity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, said R.Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India./end
