tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post1248582538243787403..comments2024-03-01T13:51:47.721+05:30Comments on Reality, one bite at a time: Termination of safeguards on indigenous reactors: What Gov/1621 really saysSiddharth Varadarajanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07721228307097170092noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post-10647555346047423132008-07-20T20:19:00.000+05:302008-07-20T20:19:00.000+05:30>>>>> Thus they {the Research facil...<I>>>>>> Thus they </I>{the Research facilities identified in the separation plan}<I> will never be subject to safeguards in the first place.</I><BR/><BR/>Nuclear fuel may not be the only thing.<BR/><BR/>I feel that, in the first place, the so-called "safeguards-irrelevant" Research facilities have been included in the Separation Plan in order to enable them to import instruments and other equipment the supply of which was probably being denied by US as a part of its technology-denial-to-India strategy. Scientists going abroad for international interaction, without a visa denial regime in operation, is possibly another attraction. But I am sure, that should any lab import, under this scheme, equipment which would otherwise have been denied to India, then foreign inspectors are certain to be close on its heels saying for example, "prove to me that this computer was not used for any calculations pertaining to any military activities! Show me all the logs!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post-88291124945455345112008-07-15T07:03:00.000+05:302008-07-15T07:03:00.000+05:30Congratulations! I wish other analysts were equall...Congratulations! I wish other analysts were equally meticulous instead of going for the 10 second sound byte. As for the future of nuclear commerce, once it is opened up for India, the main thing would be to go for Uranium supplies and even go for aquiring Uranium mines as China is doing in Australia etc. I am sure there are friendly countries in Africa,which would give mining rights, similarly in Central Asia. Russia, which is flush with fissile material from dismantled weapons and is keen to use it for reactor fuel, is another source. As for power reactors it would be prudent to go for indeginous PHWRs of 540-700 MW and develop a new range of 1000 MW reactors. If we adopt an advanced procurement plan, that is placing an order for a large number of reactors with a delivery schedule covering couple of decades as France did and even India tried in the 80s, then there could be a regular supply pipeline from the domestic industry. Companies like BHEL, L&T, Walchandnagar have done it in the past and can improve on it. One should go for imported reactors only if they are available in a short time span and the financial conditions are favourable. Of course it goes without saying that supply of spares and fuel bundles along with a strategic fuel reserve is a must. On the flip side India can export the 220 MW and 540 MW reactors as well as engineering services. I think we have a lot to learn from the French in this respect as they produce 80% electricity through Nuclear which is not 'expensive' while developing a safe waste disposal strategy. They have also developed proper planning, project management techniques. Moreover they have a plan to go for fast breeders. India learnt from the French breeder technology and has later developed it further. In fact the world Nuclear industry is keenly watching the installation and future operation of India's 500 MW Fast Breeder reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam that would start producing power in 2011. <BR/>I recommend reading an article by Nobel Laureate, Burton Richter, on the French Nuclear programme in the July 7-14 issue of NewsWeek.Shivanand Kanavihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05961143849860242978noreply@blogger.com