The Hindu Business Line : Private capital sought to tap radio isotopes

India has the potential to develop this market, especially in the field of medical diagnostics, said Mr S.C. Hiremath, Chairman and Chief Executive, Heavy Water Board under the Department of Atomic Energy.

The board is also trying to establish its presence in the international market for heavy water for use in nuclear power plants. It recently exported 30 tonnes of heavy water to nuclear power plants in China following its earlier exports of 126 tonnes to Korea.

"We plan to be present in the international market as a `nuclear material supplier' for peaceful purposes," Mr Hiremath said. He said the size of this global market is increasing with the growing popularity of nuclear energy as a more reliable source of energy compared to oil, gas, naphtha, etc for power production.

Every mega watt nuclear power produced requires roughly a tonne of heavy water.

In the US, the market for non-power application of radioisotopes is roughly three times its $30-billion nuclear power business. India has a similar potential considering it plans to set up 20,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2020, Mr Hiremath said.

"There is a huge market for production of new isotopes. For instance, Oxygen 18, Carbon 13, etc can be used as tracers in diagnostic medical applications. We are trying to encourage private players and other Government departments to make these isotopes," he said.

Mr Hiremath was speaking on the sidelines of the Health, Safety and Environment Conference and Exhibition organised by the Greentech Foundation. Heavy Water Board's Kota plant has won Greentech's Gold award for safety while its Tuticorin plant has won the Silver Award.

Private sector participation in non-power applications would be a precursor to its entry in nuclear power applications, although this would need amendments in the Atomic Energy Act.