Nuclear Power in India

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF NUCLEAR POWERof Thorium in the coastal plains, of Orissa and Kerala.
AND PUBLIC ACCEPTANCEINTRODUCTIONAs weThese deposits were sufficient to generate 3.5 lakhs
stand at the threshold of third millennium, theMW power at cheap rates for 3 00 years, while
demand for energy in our country has accelerated atcausing much less pollution. The need for producing
10percent per year, due to population explosion asnuclear power has also to be seen in the backdrop of
well economic liberalisation leading to rapidthe fact that oil resources are becoming scarce and
Industrialisation. It is true the per capita consumptioncoal reserve in our country will last for another 150
of power is a clear index on the quality of life andyears. Higher coal, oil/Gas prices will quickly undermine
our country has to go a longway to match withits competitiveness, while nuclear power generation
those of developed countries, where the per capitacosts are quite stable over a wide range of fuel price
energy consumption is 8 to 10 times of our country.scenarios.It is established the nuclear power is
For the next 50 years, Hydel, Thermal, Nuclear areadvantageous particularly in those parts of the
the three major energy options) whereas thecountry, where hydel sources are scarce and which
Non-conventional/Renewable energy sources such asare far away from the coal fields, like southern and
Biomass, Biogas, Solar energy, Wind energy, Tidalwestern parts of our country.Our country has coal
wave and Geo-Thermal energy will not contributereserves but to reach energy usage levels
significantly to the energy needs. Compared to thecomparable with global average, it is necessary to
installed capacity of 86,440 MW in 1997, theuse all energy sources particularly the nuclear power,
projected need will be 2,36,940 MW by 2012.MAJORwhich could be a source of cheap energy. The capital
ENERGY OPTIONSHydro power is a renewable,cost of the nuclear power is undoubtedly more, but
economic, non-polluting and environmentally benignthe electricity produced from it is cheap. As a
source of energy. Only 15% of Hydroelectric potentialdeveloping nation, our country has an important
has been harnessed and 7% is under various stagesoption to tap nuclear energy as a source of cheap
of development. Thus 78% of the potential remainsenergy, since the country requires the cheapest
without exploitation. This is mainly due to capitalenergy that it can get.In the context of entire coal
intensive nature, long gestation period, concern onreserve in our country will be depleted in 150 years,
inundation of forest lands, Rehabilitation of largethe coal price is going up at 15% per annum and high
populations and upsetting the ecological balance,ash content of 45% in indigenous coal which requires
which all have combined to decelerate the Hydelvast land for Ash disposal, option is converging on
sector.Thermal fuel combustion causes theNuclear Power.The Nuclear reactors are having the
atmospheric release of large quantities of Nitrogen,distinction of continuous run even for a year once
Sulphur Dioxide, Carbon dioxide and particulate matterput on bar, whereas Thermal Generators may need
and hence serious environmental impacts at local andintermittent attention.Critics of Defence Nuclear
global levels. As per the energy experts statement, aProgramme, often club the civil Nuclear and Defense
600 MW capacity pulverised coal plants, on anNuclear as 'Siamese Twins' but that is not a fact.
average will release about 35,500 tonnes of SulphurNuclear energy is a safe, environmentally benign and
dioxide, 11,700 tonnes of Nitrogen Oxide, 780 tonnesviable option.High capital cost and long lead time
of particulate, 12.50 lakh tonnes of Carbon and 148undermine the competitiveness of Nuclear Power. As
tonnes of heavy metal including radioactive nuclidesit takes nearly 8 years to complete the Nuclear
such as Uranium and Thorium over two decades. Fluepower project, the interest rates on capital cost has
gas desulfurisation and de-noxing equipment or moreto be at the lowest. At 5'0/o- interest rate, it is
highly efficient plants would reduce emission of thehaving an edge over fossil fuel based Thermal power
oxides, but these abatement measures do incur costand above 5% it loses its competitive edge. Even
penalties upto 25% tilting the cost balance to nuclearefforts have been made to reduce the gestation
energy option. Apart from the cost factor, the threatperiod by 18 months. More severe safety and
of Acid rain, depletion of Ozone layer and Greenradiation protection standards have further added to
house effect due to fossil fuel combustion, narrowthe capital cost. The Home grown pressurised Heavy
down the choice to Nuclear energy.The enormousWater reactors could be at least 40% cheaper than
power dormant in the atom was the single mostwhat they are if measures such as double
important discovery of the 20th century. Thecontainment protection around the reactor vessel
development of Nuclear power world over has beenbuilt in extra redundancy are done away with. The
rapid and France meets more than 50% energyNuclear power may be made economical by going in
demands from Nuclear power. In our country, 10for 'Closed Nuclear Power Cycle' by extracting
Nuclear reactors generating a total capacity of 1840Plutonium from spent fuel. Hence the reactors on
MW contribute only 2.5% of total energydrawing Boards are expected to have shorter
demand.NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENTAccordingconstruction time, lower capital cost, improved cycle
to NPC, 78000 tonnes of Uranium deposits wereefficiency.
found in Singhbhum (Dt) in Bihar and 3.6 lakh tonnes