Given an opportunity, we can Reprocess all the Spent Nuclear Fuels being kept by many Countries ( without knowing what to do with it ! ), recover the Uranium and Plutonium and use it in our Reactors. We can also keep the Nuclear Wastes generated from these Fuels. We know how to handle it in the most scientific and environmentally benign manner. I am sure, the Nuclear Community in India has absolutely no reservations about it. In fact, we can seriously pursue this route to get Uranium( and valuable Plutonium, as bonus) when this US-India Nuclear Deal goes through.
Now, we have got a golden opportunity of having the Cake and eating it too! Yes, the same old people who left us in the lurch in the light of Pokhran – 1 explosion, saying that we will not do business with India, are coming back to us with olive branch. They say, you need not sign NPT and you need not cap your nuclear defence program, and still we want to do business with you ! It is only natural that there is some interest for them too, for doing so. Obviously, they want to get business for their dying nuclear industry and also want to invest in one of the most promising emerging economies, next only to China. It is like a person from Nagarcovil buying a Plot in the outskirts of Chennai! Any one with neutral perspective, can not find fault in the motive of USA initiating this nuclear dialogue. Let it be their motive to make money. But, what we should look at is, do we have benefit in it or not.
For long, for good in some aspects, and bad in some other aspects, we kept up our decision of not signing the lopsided Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We also kept our dignity high in the world arena, by not using our Nuclear capabilities against any one, even under the most provocative situations. As a consequence of this political decision, we were kept isolated from the rest of the world in the Nuclear Energy sphere. As a blessing in disguise, this resulted in our Nuclear Industry taking deep roots technically. But at the same time, it could not spread its wings commercially, for want of Investments. Hence, today, what we need is Investments and not Technology. We have the complete Technologies for closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, including Uranium Enrichment, Reprocessing and Waste Immobilization. In my perception, the above referred three stages, are in fact much simpler compared to the Reactor Design and Construction. There is a misconception in the media that this US-India Nuclear Deal is for Technology Transfer(especially the Fuel Reprocessing) apart from Fuel and Investment. It is far from truth. It could be the perception of the US and the rest of the world. The Nuclear Community in India knows better about it.
Fortunately, India kept the Nuclear Energy torch glowing even while the strongest proponents of Nuclear Energy like France copied USA and slowed down their Nuclear Programme. Now, even while the rest of the world is looking back at their Nuclear Energy policy with regrets, with USA being the front runner(as usual), India smiles with proud. Yes, now all the Developed Countries want to revive their Nuclear Energy programs in the light of Carbon Dioxide crisis and the rising oil prices. Apart from these indirect driving forces, the splendid performance of all running Nuclear Reactors, their safety records, successful development of nuclear waste management methods, etc have created a positive response in favour of the Nuclear Power, on their own merit.
But unfortunately for them, the Nuclear Industries in Developed countries are in the verge of closure with no trained manpower and infrastructure. Whereas, India has a robust Nuclear Industry with the best of the technologies and technical manpower par excellence! But for the draw backs of limited funds, and the public skepticism on the capabilities of our engineers, Indian Nuclear Energy would have been far better. It is an irony that all suspect the capabilities of the Engineers only and not the unrealistic Labour Laws, which has been one of the major reasons for the lack luster performance of DAE( for that matter any PSU ).
There are many sources for commercial energy, and Nuclear Energy being one of those, contributes about 16% of world energy needs. But, Nuclear Energy has been one of the favorites of the media and hence it has all along been in the public domain ever since its birth about 50 years back. The reason is very simple. Nuclear energy was born and has been with defence tag and hence was kept under wraps, out of the media reach. As the human psychology goes, anything kept secret attracts inquisitiveness and associated gossips, misgivings, blowing out of proportions, etc. While the media kept on publishing all negative “facts” based on half baked information and building up a completely hostile response in the minds of general public, the Technical people kept silent for official reasons.
The Three Mile Accident in USA and the Chernobyl Accident in Russia added fuel to the fire and eventually Nuclear Energy was banned in many Countries and put on back burner in most other Countries, the leader for this debacle being USA.
the sad thing is when everything is good for the country the MP's are fighting for power, its sad that nobody cares for the welfare of india.. its just the kursi.. had BJP presented the deal the comgress would have voted against.. thats politics
India needs nuclear technology to defend its integrity. India has options to nuclear power to meet its energy needs. India needs to preserve its historic ties with Iran. The deal with the US and the IAEA is foreign to our interests,
Our necks are in the line of Gulf oil. Any disruptions in supplies can be a death-knell for decent life. Day by day, we use increasing fossil fuel & find newer uses. Washing m/cs, dryers, mobilphones, plug-in vehicles etc.
This deal is more political as nuclear energy can meet only about 10% of our requirements & capital costs are heavy. But this deal will get us as a player & help us to deal not only with US, but also France, Russia, Australia etc. If we isolate ourselves, we will become insignificant to China, Russia & Brazil, with whom we are tagged.
The leftists have to ponder how China is becoming such a star player. They are in WTO, get all from everywhere & pro-active in resolving contentious issues with developed countries. They play soft-power to the hilt. They are now co-operating with Taiwan & Japan for exploring oil in disputed islands for mutual benefit. Why should we sink into a black-hole due to internal & personal vendetta?
Our democrazy may mean much to us, but does it benefit the aam aadmi? If the nuclear deal is not an issue, others will be invented with an eye on elections in perpetuity. Any deal is a give & take. Renewable energy will be the ultimate saviour but even for that we have to be plugged into the world to get benefits.
Think national interests. Think of aam aadmi to get a better life. Issues can be resolved through give & take if bloated egos are busted! Let not all initiatives come to nothing forever!
