Nuke deals can solve power crisis in South India: Srinivasan

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Feb 16: The operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal and nuclear co-operation with Russia and France on fuel supply will largely benefit south India, Atomic Energy Commission member M R Srinivasan said.

Delivering his address at 'Anu-Week Celebrations- 2008' organised by the Department of Atomic Energy here on Feb 15, he said ''once the agreements are signed, country's first giant nuclear power complex will be set up at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.'' Dr Srinivasan, also a former Chairman of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), said six reactors, including the two under construction at Kudankulam, could generate 2000 MW to 6000 MW energy.

''This will be sufficient to solve power crisis in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, he said, addeding ''the two under-construction reactors would be commissioned in 2010.

Dr Srinivasan said the DAE was setting up nuclear power stations at Kaiga in Karnataka, four reactors in Rajasthan and a prototype fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam. ''A plant is under construction near Tuticorin in the State to extract Zirconium from beach sand.

Zirconium is used for making nuclear fuel and reactor components, he added.'' Referring to the Indo-US nuclear deal, Dr Srinivasan said ''India is isolated because of the delay in signing the 123 Agreement. Right now we have no access to nuclear fuel, nuclear material and nuclear equipment from outside. The agreement with the US will be an advantage for India.'' Stating that Russia, France and America were keen to supply reactors to the country, he said ''if everything goes well in next ten to 20 years, the country can generate an additional 20,000 MW to 25,000 MW energy.

UNI