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India to Press Ahead With Plans to Generate More Nuclear Energy

   Anjana Pasricha | New Delhi  March 18, 2011
   Nuclear  power  plant at Kalpakkam Atomic Center in southern India was
   damaged  by  tidal  waves  in  2004,  but  was declared safe by Indian
   government (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Nuclear  power  plant at Kalpakkam Atomic Center in southern India was
   damaged  by  tidal  waves  in  2004,  but  was declared safe by Indian
   government (file photo)

   The  nuclear  crisis  in  Japan  has re-ignited a debate in India over
   nuclear  energy.  India  is  planning  to spend billions of dollars to
   build  new  atomic reactors. Experts say the energy-hungry nation will
   press ahead with its plans to invest in nuclear energy.   Â
   Indiaâs  20  existing nuclear reactors contribute a mere three percent
   to the countryâs energy output. But that is set to change.
   India  plans  to  invest $175 billion in dozens of new atomic reactors
   over  the coming years so that nuclear energy supplies about a quarter
   of the countryâs energy needs by 2050.

   Agreements  have  been  signed  with  France  and  Russia to build new
   reactors. The United States is also expected to be a major supplier of
   atomic reactors in the future. Â
   But  as  Japan  battles  to  contain a crisis at its nuclear reactors,
   opposition  parties  in  India have asked the government to review its
   ambitious  plans  to  increase the use of nuclear energy. Anti-nuclear
   activists  are  calling  for a freeze on further expansion pointing to
   potential risks from an accident.
   The  Indian  government  says  it  will not reconsider plans to expand
   nuclear power generation. It says it will, however, re-evaluate safety
   issues.
   "There  are  lessons  be learned,â said V. Raghuraman, a former energy
   adviser  to  the  Confederation of India Industry. âThat is what India
   will  do.  The  question  now  will  be  one of re-examination and see
   whether  the  path  on which we have been going ahead is providing the
   necessary  safeguards and safety procedures are being incorporated, so
   they  will  be re-evaluated. So there may be some postponement, but no
   derailing of the process."
   In  particular,  there  is  expected  to be greater focus on potential
   safety  hazards  at  a  nuclear  reactor  to  be built at Jaitapur, in
   western Maharashtra, by France. Billed as the worldâs biggest reactor,
   it  will  generate  about  10,000  megawatts  of electricity. But some
   concerns   have   been   raised   because   the   site  stands  on  an
   earthquake-prone zone.   Â
   Nuclear  energy  is important for India. Forty per cent of its billion
   plus  population  lives  without  an  electricity  connection in their
   homes.  The fast-growing economy indicates that demand from industries
   is increasing. And the country needs options to expensive oil imports.
   Raghuraman  says India needs to generate electricity from a variety of
   sources.
   "India  will  have to go for multiple options,â he added. âThey cannot
   have either-or situations. I donât think nuclear will be wished away."
   However,  with  images of Japanâs battle to contain radiation from its
   reactors  being  beamed worldwide, the debate over nuclear energy will
   continue.

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