Ex-atomic energy chief opposes n-reactor import

Ex-atomic energy chief opposes n-reactor import

A former chief of India's atomic energy regulator on Sunday opposed the central government's move to import light water reactors (LWRs) in the next two decades, saying it does not have justifiable technical or economic basis. "The decision taken by the government to import about 40,000 MWe (megawatt electrical) of light water reactors within the next two decades has no justifiable technical or economic basis," ex-chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan said in a statement here.
Gopalakrishnan said with the demonstrated indigenous expertise of having designed, built and operated 17 pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) up to 540 MWe capacity on its own and with four 700 MWe PHWR construction projects in hand, there was no reason for India to diversify its nuclear fleet to include several new types of foreign reactors, of which neither Indians nor foreigners have any experience so far.
Noting that the reason for bringing imported reactors was neither technology driven nor for the economic benefit of the country, the former AERB chief said the Indian PHWRs were more efficient plutonium producers, far superior than the high burn-up LWRs, which the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was planning to import.
"We have complete mastery of PHWR technology, with three generations of engineers and scientists who have been trained in all facets of related activities, with existing full capabilities for its manufacture and fabrication within Indian industries.
"These capabilities are already demonstrated and today we have the inherent indigenous ability to further extend the PHWR designs to 1000 MWe rating," he said.