My Blogs : First Opinion ; Radiation Protection Issues ; My Voice

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Thursday, May 31, 2007

INDIA - US BILATERAL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

The so called 123 Deal is yet to be closed to the satisfaction of India. As one can see, there will not be any deal without India retaining the reprocessing rights of the spent fuel. Definitely, the nuclear fuel supplies from US and other Nuclear Fuel Supplier’ Group countries will help India in running the half-starved nuclear power reactors in full steam. But this is only a short-term benefit. And, too many unreasonable conditions put forth by the Nuclear Fuel Suppliers Group such as signing of NPT, end to nuclear tests, acceptance of technical “benchmarks”, etc will break the very backbone of the country’s ambitious nuclear power program, and compromise its security requirements.

It is high time that India should pursue its thorium fuel cycle programs with zeal and be the lead country in the world, and ensure availability of the nuclear power for decades without any unpleasant deals. Nature has bestowed plenty of thorium which can sustain the program, and elevate Indian technological superiority in the nuclear field.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

RISING WATERS AND SAFETY OF NUCLEAR SITES

Media has been continuously reporting about the possible outcome of the global warming scenarios such as:
· Sea to gulp more land by 2020
· Melting glaciers could lead to a flood of troubles
· Calamity countdown
· Act now or face the heat
· World has just 8 years to tackle global warming

It is high time (may be rather late) that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and National Regulatory Authorities prepare a master plan for the safe management of the possible disastrous consequences of rising waters due to global warming in nuclear installations including the power plants, fuel processing plants, spent fuel reprocessing plants and radioactive waste disposal sites. From cooling water and low level liquid waste disposal considerations, generally radiation installation sites, particularly for nuclear power plants are located close to sea or virtually on the seashore. Often, the consequences may cross national boundaries, particularly in Europe.

The IAEA can act as a nodal agency to ensure existence of the disaster management plans in all the member states, review the plans for their adequacy, and advice the states on the immediate safety measures to be undertaken to prevent flooding of the nuclear sites.