The Hindu Business Line : ‘Govt will spend Rs 800 cr for uranium exploration’

This would be necessary to continue efforts to establish newer deposits and exploitation of uranium to meet the indigenous nuclear power programme demands in the future, said Dr Anil Kakodkar, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

At present, the country’s nuclear power programme was facing the problem of lower capacity factor. This was due primarily to problems with uranium availability and not technology, he said while delivering the Fifth Yarlagadda Sreeramulu endowment lecture here today.

Referring to the international civil nuclear co-operation, Dr Kakodkar said “We don’t need to be diffident as we are now talking with enough strengths”. Already, in collaboration with Russia two 1,000 MW nuclear reactors are being set up in Koodankulam and an expansion is possible there with the co-operation going forward.

He said there is interest from private sector as well as global companies to participate in the nuclear power expansion programmes.

The country’s nuclear power programme’s primary target is to reach 10,000 MW through the pressurised heavy water reactor programme. At present, 15 reactors are operational, three more are under construction. An additional 8 reactors of 700 Mw each have been planned with the Government giving in-principle nod for four of them, he said.

Dr Kakodkar emphasised the need for early availability of domestic/imported uranium (imported reactors) to reduce dependence on import of energy in the future for the country.

Asked about any problems in technology transfer from NSG (Nuclear Supply Group) countries, in the context of reprocessing of spent fuel, the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission said, he did not foresee any. Technology transfer is bilateral and depends on the countries involved.

While India has the technology to reprocess spent fuel and considers it an important component of its three stage nuclear programme (PHWR, Fast Breeder and thorium utilization), countries such as the US, France, Russia have also started evincing interest in it again, Dr Kakodkar said.

Dr Kakodkar spoke on ‘Atomic energy in India: Emerging scenario’, at the Institution of Engineers, which is hosting the annual event.

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