India determined to achieve energy independence by 2030: Kalam

Athens, Apr 27 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today said India has to go for both renewable sources of energy along with the nuclear and bio-fuel to achieve energy independence.

India was determined to achieve this goal by 2030, said Dr Kalam while addressing the scientists of the Greek's National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos here.

The President told the Greek scientists that there was a need for converting Thorium into a fissile material using fast breeder technology.

''India has to go for Nuclear power generation in a big way using Thorium based reactors. Thorium, a non-fissile material is available in abundance in our country.

''Intensive research is essential for converting Thorium for maximising its utilisation and generating electric power through Thorium based reactors,'' Dr Kalam said.

''These areas definitely need intensive cooperation between India and Greece,'' he added.

''Power generation, Proteomics, HIV/AIDS, Stem Cell, Earthquake and excessive rainfall were the areas where the two countries could begin research together,'' he pointed out.

Noting that there was much progress in testing the vaccines for preventing HIV/AIDS, he said, ''It is indeed a big challenge for Life Science scientists to develop an integrated vaccine leading to production in three-years time.'' Similarly, he added that Stem Cell research has to be pursued in a mission mode for finding a cure for many diseases.

Dr Kalam also stressed the need of working on research for forecasting earthquakes and rainfall.

''There was a necessity for a global monsoon research to determine the intensity and quantum of rain in a particular cloud condition, through a validated prediction system with detailed research,'' he said.

''It also was necessary to forecast earthquakes using multiple parameters using precursors such as pre-shock conditions, electromagnetic phenomena prior to final rupture and atmospheric and ionospheric anomalies,'' Dr Kalam added.

Calling for more intense cooperation between India and Greece in the field of science and technology, the President said the core competence of both countries can be identified by a joint task team which will eneble establishment of collaborative ventures ''for synergising the strength of two nations in various sectors''.

UNI