Fukushima is past, India looks forward to more nuclear power

Praful Bidwai (dna, March 19, 2015) criticised the media for blacking out the fourth anniversary of Fukushima and reporting about government's plan to triple nuclear power generation by 2020-21. Times have changed; the media appreciates the potential gains of enhancing nuclear power generation in spite of incessant scaremongering by a few, for whom antinuclear sentiment is an article of faith.

As usual, they parrot their perceived lack of performance by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). India mines and mills uranium, fabricates fuel elements and uses them in nuclear power reactors. The country has developed reprocessing and advanced waste management technologies. It designed, constructed, commissioned and operated 19 pressurised heavy water reactors. Critics may judge DAE's performance after reviewing its website.

Mr Bidwai uses information from the World Nuclear Energy Status Report to argue that nuclear power is going into oblivion. Steve Kidd a pro-nuclear communication specialist wrote thus about this report: "Although the authors and their sponsors are unashamedly anti-nuclear, there is good information in the publication, and some of the points made are fair ones and worthy of reflection". According to him, they "inflate any evidence that may serve to back up their view that the nuclear industry is on its last legs, while either ignoring or downplaying anything to the contrary....."  Bidwai follows the same path to berate the Indian nuclear industry. 

Contrary to Shri Bidwai's views that Fukushima has made atomic power publicly unacceptable everywhere, new nuclear power plants are under construction in 14 countries:  Argentina, Brazil, China, Finland, France, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine, USA, and UAE.

Bidwai's opinion that the generic and domestic safety record of nuclear power generation is appalling, is not based on facts. The safety performance of India's nuclear power reactors is satisfactory. Please see details in the annual reports of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board at www.aerb.gov.in. 

Nuclear power is not costly as asserted by him. The nuclear power tariffs are comparable to those of conventional power generating units (such as coal-based thermal power stations) located in the area/region. The government's reply to a Lok Sabha question on 25 February 2015 contains details on the tariff: Tarapur Atomic Power Station Units 1&2 (TAPS-1&2) sell power at 97 paise per unit. The cost of power from the latest commissioned Kudankulam plant is Rs 3.94 per unit The average tariff of nuclear power was about Rs2.71 paise per unit in 2013-14. As on 31.3.2014, the range of tariffs of fossil fuel-based sources of electricity in the central sector varied from (Rs1.47 to Rs 13.67) per unit. 

NPCIL and its French counterpart are negotiating to arrive at a fair tariff for power from the yet-to-be constructed Jaitapur nuclear power plant. Some reports say that it may finally be Rs6.50 per unit. 

Bidwai questions the "democratic content of decision making about energy". DAE is bound to develop nuclear power as directed by India's Parliament through the Atomic Energy Act 1962. Parliament can question them if they do not develop nuclear energy. The agency follows strictly all prescribed procedures for setting up its plants.

Nuclear power was an issue in the elections. In the 2014 General Election, SP Udayakmar, the antinuclear activist secured 1.53% (15,314 out of 9, 90,737) votes. His colleague Shri Pushparayan fared marginally better. Though this answers Bidwai's rhetoric on democratic opinion, DAE and NPCIL must concede that they could not convince a section of the villagers near Kudankulam nuclear power plant about the necessity of nuclear power.

Successive Indian governments have been encouraging all modes of power generation; they have no other choice. Each one has merits and demerits. Nuclear power will continue to play its role. Contrary to Shri Bidwai's views, we cannot manage with solar and wind alone.

The author is a former secretary of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board