i am still missing point why this government is so desperate to sign on nuclear deal. Both this government and Bush govt are facing sunset anyway. whats the rush. all the talk about nuclear energy, ok its essential , i do not say no? Question is how desperately we need that now? Here is a set of problem i would like this govt to answer immeditaely instead of this nuclear deal
1. The energy demand is increasing, yes all right, where , fossil fuel isn't it ? is this deal going to solve this problem, i doubt it? 2. the whole economy is going through the worst phase. prices are crazy blame it on crude oil price. Ok does this deal going to provide us any respite? no not really 3. Environment, whats going on in this country, does anybody give any thought to it? 4. transport and communication , i do not whats going to happen , the way cars are exploding on the roads which are simply are not fit , no answer
5. whats the use of the nuclear deal if i have to pay 50rs for rice and 50rs for my daily transport requirement.
the whole point is this govt wants to take credit before it goes away in this whole messy situation. there is no positive except probably this one. And even we do not know what will be the result of this deal. And i ask myself why my contry is part of this?
If i analyze last few years of world politics and economy, i do not see MR bush as a very bright president, i do not see Mr Bush creating any economic opportunity, rather i see war crazy man whose hunger for p
RE:missing the point
by Gopal on Jul 10, 2008 11:47 PM Permalink
All these halla ballu is for the sake of 6800MW of nuclear energy by 2020. ie 3% of total. Energy starts flowing in 2020. At the present rate of inflation it will cost Rs20/- per unit. This is from Uranium. Uranium is scarce and is reported that world total deposit will last only up to 2070 at the present rate of mining. As it becomes scarce it is natural that the Uranium price will be exorbitantly high making the nuclear power uneconomical and financially un-viable. Congress released a document projecting the energy needs of India. Read Times of India 9.7.08. “Congress releases document on nuke deal's importance”. India wants to generate 26% of total in 2050. That is around 120000MW. Can anyone imagine the total cost of projects to have such a huge capacity addition by 2050? Is it a realistic projection? Remember Uranium deposit will be depleting at faster rate. This does not stand to logic. Why does the congress come out with such false/unrealistic documents? Whom do they want to fool? Smells -some negotiation is in the pipe-line. The above document can be used to substantiate the financial viability. Beware Indians!!
RE:missing the point
by All Right on Jul 10, 2008 06:23 PM Permalink
Energy needs of India are increasing exponentially. Thus nuclear power is one of the way forward for India to bridge this gap. Increased price of oil and gas internationally, issues of climate change associated with coal as well as the breakdown of consensus on big dams (where NAPM is one principal actors) has forced the country to relook the viability of nuclear power.
Once we secure NSG waiver, it does not bind us to nuclear trade with only the US. We are at liberty to trade with anyone we like. It also does not imply that trade would be a one-way street, India reduced to being a net importer. India's fast breeder reactors are cutting edge, generations ahead of even the US. We have the largest reserves of thorium in the world. Thorium cannot be directly used as a nuclear fuel. It needs to be processed into uranium. And this uranium is one of the highest quality in the world. However the glitch is that it will take at least another 10 years for our fast breeders to come on stream. Uranium resources like fossil fuels are expected to last 30 years. We can rule the world as the key nuclear supplier in 30 years
So we need a short-term strategy to plug our energy needs and this is where the deal finds a fit.
Further once India secures a NSG waiver, it is immaterial whether US Congress approves the Indo-US Agreement as we will be at liberty to trade with all other countries whether it maybe Russia, France, Australia etc.
RE:missing the point
by DEBADATTA MISHRA on Jul 10, 2008 06:29 PM Permalink
yes so i thought, rosy picture isn't it? which means country like US should have done that already,ohh may be they are waiting for fossil fuel to dry out,then with a bang they will replace their all fossil fuelled energy stations and hydro power dams with nuclear paower plants? whats stopping the world powers to do the same what we are thinking here? isn't there something wrong?
RE:missing the point
by deepak on Jul 10, 2008 08:56 PM Permalink
and not to forget, Uranium price will shoot up by 1000% if countries started robust nuclear electricity...
RE:missing the point
by All Right on Jul 10, 2008 06:35 PM Permalink
There is renewed interest in nuclear interest all over the world. 24 new reactors itself is coming up in Asia. John McCain, Republican candidate promised to double the number of reactors in the US (now over 100). China is building 6 and so is India
