'India has capacity to produce 243 GW power'

Bangalore, Aug 22: India has the capacity to produce 243 Giga Watts of power by 2050 by utilising the Uranium and Thorium resources available in the country, renowned materials scientist and Indian Nuclear Society President Dr Placid Rodriguez said today.

''With the available Uranium and Thorium resources, the country can produce 243 GW of power as against the target of 250 GW by 2050 and there is no need to import Uranium. However, there is an urgent need to explore Uranium and Thorium resources, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya,'' he said.

Dr Rodriguez was speaking to newspersons after the Prof Brahm Prakash Memorial Lecture on 'Indian Experience on Fuel and Structural Materials in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors' at the Indian Institute of Metals here yesterday, given by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Director Dr S Banerjee.

To a question, he said a huge investment and political will was needed for the purpose. However, he did not divulge the quantum of resources needed, stating that the amount was yet to be worked out.

Referring to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and the US Congress passing the Nuclear Policy recently, Dr Rodriguez said the benefits from the policy might be short term as the country might get supply of Uranium, but in the long run the policy would be of no use.

''Unless the US agrees to the conditions laid down in the deal, signed on July 18, 2005, we may not benefit much in the long run and we don't want to surrender the country's sovereignty.''

Dr Banerjee, who was also present, said ''our achievement in the field of nuclear power generation is second to none. The Fast Breeder Reactors and Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) are functioning with 91 per cent success and even Canada may approach us for our technology.'' He said maturity in the PHWR technology, using natural uranium and heavy water, and its related fuel cycle activities have been achieved. This was reflected in the record capacity utilisation of the country's PHWRs and the total indigenous capability in the fuel cycle activities.

Earlier, Dr Banerjee, in his lecture, said there were 14 PHWRs -- 12 units of 220 Mwe capacity and two of 540 Mwe -- and two Boiling Water Reactors of 160 Mwe in operation. Four PHWRs of 220 Mwe, two Pressurised Water Reactors of 1,000 Mwe and a Fast Breeder Reactor of 500 Mwe were under construction. These reactors together represent a capacity of about 7,400 Mwe.

He said that with the present availability of Uranium, the country could produce 10,000 Mwe of power. ''Ofcourse, it is nothing compared to the demand of 30,000 Mwe. But if you want to increase the capacity, you can multiply the fast Breeder Reactors...We can attain energy security in the country by expanding Fast Breeder Reactors and exploring thorium resources available in the country.''

UNI