We will be self reliant only once our Thorium reactors come in force which is some yrs away (we have 30%of thorium reserves).But even this technology would require some (nominal) use of Plutonium for the initial cycle.The idea is to generate this from reproceesed fuel & use it in Thorium reactors. Hence, in Ndeal we insisted on reprocessing rights over the spent nuclear fuel so that we have enough Plutonium to run our Thorium reactors.We have only 0.8% of world Uranium reserves that cannot last long & serve both civilian & defence purpose. What do u propose to do once our Uranium reserves r exhausted??? Sit with folded hands & beg the world for relief & u expect the same countries to come to help u when u r weak & vulnerable. If US stops fuel supply, France & Russia will step in. But without the deal they 2cannot supply fuel to us, as is the case 2day.Even 2day, we r a energy deficient country & industry runs at 50% optimum capacity. Our needs 15-20-30 yrs hence would be mindboggling. If we do not hv Nfuel, we collapse under our own wt. Besides, we depend on OPEC (read muslim)countries for fuel & its negative environmental effects.Why should India put all eggs in 1 basket? India has conducted 2 nuclear tests in last 32 yrs. After 1998 tests we had a unilateral moratorium on testing that continues. We will test only if China/pak test. If either of them test, they too face international sanctions.Will they test is qstion mark. China depends on other nations for Nfuel.
