The questions raised by readers are apt and genuine and it is the sad reality that science journalism has not really evolved in India to make an indepth, lucid and authentic account of this major development in the realm of Indian technology. Such reporting could have a significant bearing on marshalling support for Civil N-deal and all we get instead is a non-descript PTI reportage of routine nature churned out by a person with no serious application of thought nor team deliberation. There are less journalist in Indian Science than even Cricket, as if real money involved is of the same order! Indian scientists have done such pioneering work and get no recognition. Same work in US or Europe or Japan would have got different acceptance even by Indians.
My Mohanty's assessment below is totally correct.Dont completely buy into the statement made by Mr Kakodkar.BARC and DAE is a very slow moving machinery run by few 'very' good scientist but at the same time there are enormous number of paper pushers contributing to the inertia.Safety standards are up to the mark. And the organization is a marred with corruption.
Indian thorium work is world class by nature. Eventhough invented earlier that, we improved the process much more, thanks to the sanctions. But our electricity requirement is more to consider other options too.
Chairman Kakodkar's announcement is a matter for celebration. Indians should indeed be proud of the significant developments that have been made recently in the country in a variety of fields and nuclear reactor technology is one of the most sophisticated of them and has tremendous potential for generation of electric power. The place of Electric power in the industrialization of the country and generally improving the quality of life cannot be overemphasized. The contribution of nuclear reactors to the generation of clean energy is of particular interest.
This is the time for the Indian government to support the overall reactor program with enough funding such that the successful development and completion of the technology can be accelerated.
Salute to the Indian scientists and technologists.
Inspite of the vast developments we had in the power sector many of the states have been witnessing lots of Power outages still now. We see the news in Maharshtra of late . The Governmet should work towards reducing this at a larger scale across all the states . These are essential commodites for common man and Political differences should be sorted out at the best of the people. States that loot power and which do not have a proper governence mechanism should be strongly punished. Our water resources are declining and the only source of power will be Solar ,Wind Mills and these Nuclear reactors. Hope people who work on these projects act at their full commitment and bring better prospects. Manufacturing and Retail industries can flurish only if we can provide them uninterrupted power supply which inturn will generate more no of jobs
RE:Light up the Mahan Rashtra, please.
by ABHIJIT RAJA on Apr 28, 2007 06:53 AM Permalink
Hey man , the entire country is facing power shortages , dont yyou think its not correct to ask to light up Maharashtra specifically , all the power belongs to the nation and should be distributed accordingly
Around 1985 DAE had a plan of generating 10,000 MW of nuclear power by 2000. But in the year 2000, the installed capacity was closer to 2000 MW. Around the year 2000, the targets were altered a bit. The revised target was to produce 10, 000 MW by 2010 and 20, 000 MW by 2020. I hope you can fathom the efficiency of our nuclear scientists and the alacrity with which the Government facilitates nuclear research here.
Coming to FBR technology, our scientists have been threatening to commission a 500 MW FBR reactor for so many years. I guess the first time I read about that was in the mid 90s. And now they claim that it will be ready by 2010. Judging by their past record, this seems like mere hogwash to me.
Thorium based FBRs make a lot of sense in the Indian context as we have the largest known reserves of Thorium. We have had a prototype reactor (FBTR) since 1985, but like the rest of our nuclear program, this too seems to be suffering from extreme lethargy.
The situation can definitely be salvaged. But, the initiative must come from the Government. With ever increasing fossil fuel prices, nuclear energy is one of mankind's big hopes. And, nuclear power also translates into weapons grade fissile material. Future generation of rockets will in all probability by powered by nuclear power and so on. Clearly, the advantage is multi-pronged. This is one area the country must invest heavily.
RE:Mere hogwash!
by Ilango on Apr 27, 2007 05:22 PM Permalink
what you are stating may be true but I feel if there is nothing in it then I feel the developed nations whould not have raised their concerns on this. The US wants us to allow them into the research area for inspection which the indian govt. is rejecting.
May be our scientists have taken too many years in research. (dont under estimate them) But I strongly feel that they have neared to the final stage. Lets hope So !!
Nevertheless we have no other option than to belive them and hope for the best.
Best of luck to you all scientist who are involved in this.
You are mistaken. Back in 1985 when they had a target of 10000mw by 2000, they did not know about the nuclear tests.
The fact is we donot have enough uranium to generate 10000mw of power, unless we import uranium. The imports were blocked following nuclear tests. Our existing plants are not running at 100% so why do we want to build more?
The FBR technology from my information is on track, what threating are you talking about? It is a very delicate technology and even many nuclear countries have not totally mastered it. I do think they are very much on track.
And regarding the Thorium reactors, most other countries are in the research phase too regarding that. There are no thorium reactors out there, and india might be the first to actually do it. So stop cribbing anf start appreciating some things after learning the facts.
RE:Mere hogwash!
by Deepak Mohanty on Apr 28, 2007 05:51 AM Permalink
Get your facts right. The nuclear tests and the subsequent tests happened around mid 1998. The nuclear establishment had enough time to get close to their target of 10000 MW.
And before making anybody "learn the facts", read up some basic physics. What do you think mw is? Try to find out why mw is not the same as MW/MWe before you post again.
RE:Mere hogwash!
by Satish G on Apr 28, 2007 02:12 AM Permalink
No body ever built a comercial reactor period. I'm pretty sure you know noyhing about nuclear physics/nuclear power.
Thoruim power does not have technology to use metalic fuels efficently.
RE:RE:Mere hogwash!
by Murthy on Apr 28, 2007 06:28 AM Permalink
Don't be a fool and assume everything.
Built in the shadow of the majestic Rocky Mountains, Fort St. Vrain (FSV) was Colorado's only Nuclear Power Plant and America's only commercial High Temperature Gas Cooled reactor design. Plans to construct FSV were announced in 1965. Work began at the site in 1968. Initial hot flow testing of the reactor began in 1972, and several years of design problem work followed. The first commercial electric power using the reactor was generated from the plant in December 1976.
RE:[object]
by Satish G on Apr 29, 2007 08:26 AM Permalink
INDIA's thorium work is accepted by IAEA as the latest benchmark on thorium research by any country. Go figure out.
RE:Mere hogwash!
by Satish G on Apr 29, 2007 08:24 AM Permalink
It was only a small expermintal reactor. If you count it thene there were pleanty of thorium reactors out there. We have one in in INDIA also which uses U233 irridiated from thorium (Only reactor in the world that runs on U233).
Just for your information. INDIA's thorium research work is the latest and most upto date bench mark by IAEA.
Your are not upto date on technology especially with respect to the progress INDIA has made in last 30 years.
RE:Mere hogwash!
by Deepak Mohanty on Apr 28, 2007 06:43 AM Permalink
Article that chronicles Indian FBR endeavour http://www.igcar.ernet.in/lis/nl69/igc69.pdf
Design details of PFBR http://www.igcar.ernet.in/igc2004/reg/homepage/PFBR_paper.pdf
RE:Mere hogwash!
by amit parekh on Apr 27, 2007 06:13 PM Permalink
It is quite obvious to doubt the credibility of deadline given by chairman of AEC. I am also agree with deepak about the targets projected by DAE and lack of fulfillment of that targets. But I think following are the reasons for not achieving these targets. 1. Lack of natural uranium is the biggest problem for india. Though we are having indegeneous technology to built and run nuclear power plants, but because of having unsufficient fuel it is not becoming possible. Even our existing PHWRs are not working on its 100% capacity because of this problem then it is very dificult to expand the nuclear power generation cpacity.
2. The peer pressure developed by the international community to slowdown the pace of our nuclear programme is also a substancial reason.
Then too, I think if the problem of fuel shortage is solved, India has capability to achieve the targets on its own by indigeneous means.
Mr. Kakodkar, hats off to you and your team. we are proud of you... awould be happy if you also become president or vice president after your retirement.
