The Hindu Business Line : Pvt sector participation in nuclear power in phased manner

DR ANIL KAKODKAR (right), Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and Mr Avinash Chander, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory, at the Indian Society for Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering's national conference on composites in Hyderabad on Friday. — P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , Nov. 24

Private sector participation in building India's nuclear power will be in a phased manner. The necessary legal amendments to facilitate this would be in place soon, according to Dr Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission.

The role of private sector will be greatly enhanced once the international co-operation agreements on civil nuclear power are in place. At present, it is a question of preparing the industry to take up various activities in the nuclear energy programme, he told newspersons here on Friday.

Asked if private sector would be allowed into the exploration and mining of uranium, which is required in huge quantity to fuel the ambitious power programme, Dr Kakodkar said the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd, has started involving the private companies on an outsourced model. Recently, a new mine in Jharkand area was opened up in this fashion, he added.

The necessary amendments to the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, to allow private participation in nuclear power, have been discussed and should be ready in right time. The Indo-US nuclear pact should give the needed push to the civilian programme, Dr Kakodkar, who is also Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, said.

Responding to queries on the new clauses in the Indo-US agreement passed by the US Senate recently, Dr Kakodkar said, "The inclusion of the new clause has come us a surprise. It is important that it is properly addressed."

"We have already raised several concerns and articulated them. This additional concern, is a new thing and should be sorted out in their coming discussions," Dr Kakodkar said.

The new clause Section 115, refers to joint research in nuclear non-proliferation and did not exist in the July 18, 2005 Indo-US nuclear deal.

Any joint initiative that could be intrusive to our strategic nuclear programme is not in our interest, he said.

Earlier, Dr Kakodkar inaugurated the two-day, Fifth National Conference on Composites, organised by the Indian Society for Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering.

In composites luckily India has good human resources due to the foresight of our academics. However, Indian industry needs to get its act together to tap the immense potential that is emerging. Already, more Chinese products, especially in the sports goods market are visible in the market.

The Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory, Dr Avinash Chander in his welcome address said India's missiles, LCA, and civil aircraft would have greater percentage of components made out of composites in future.

Mr P.D. Mangalagiri, of the Research and Development Centre of General Motors in his address said the safe disposal of wastes and environmental issues surrounding these materials should be looked into.