Nuclear Power in India

nitesh

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Guys good news:

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/atomic-energy-act-to-be-amended-soon/19/24/55876/on

Atomic Energy Act to be amended soon
BS Reporter / New Delhi February 27, 2009, 19:11 IST

The government has prepared the draft of the amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, in order to allow private participation in setting up nuclear power plants in India.

"The draft regulation is ready and the amendment would be passed after the parliament resumes following the elections," said Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.
 

nitesh

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http://www.samaylive.com/news/57-sites-identified-to-set-up-nuclear-parks-chavan/611352.html

5-7 sites identified to set up nuclear parks: Chavan

New Delhi, Feb 27 : Government today said it has identified five to seven sites to set up nuclear parks, each with a capacity to house at least six atomic power plants.

"The site selection committee has identified five to seven sites to establish nuclear parks. One or more American parks can come up at these sites," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said here.

Of the identified sites, one or more may house reactors purchased from the United States, under the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said.

Chavan said the sites have to be cleared by the Cabinet and the proposal could not be discussed at some recent Cabinet meetings as Prime Minister Minister Manmohan Singh is unwell.

The Prime Minister is in-charge of the Department of Atomic Energy.

The Indian nuclear renaissance will see several nuclear parks coming up across the country each having four to six atomic plants, Chavan said.

While Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu is being developed in collaboration with Russia, French company Areva has been allocated Jaitapur in Maharashtra to set up nuclear power plants, he said.

Chavan said government was also exploring possibilities of acquiring Uranium mines in other countries to ensure fuel supply for nuclear reactors in the country.
 

nitesh

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata-/We-cant-miss-the-nuclear-bus/articleshow/4206408.cms

'We can't miss the nuclear bus'
1 Mar 2009, 0122 hrs IST, TNN


KOLKATA: The state cannot afford to miss the nuclear bus, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC)
director Bikash Sinha cautioned on Saturday. "If politics led to the department of atomic energy's (DAE) dropping the proposal of housing seven nuclear plants at Haripur in East Midnapore, it would be a colossal loss for the state," Sinha said on the sidelines of an outreach programme for students at the VECC and SINP campus on the occasion of Science Day.

Emboldened by reversals faced by the government in acquiring land in Nandigram and Singur, local fishermen at Haripur have staged sporadic protests with the tacit support of Trinamool Congress. "I have spoken to the chief minister, impressing on him the critical need to bag the nuclear projects," Sinha said.

Incidentally, Bhattacharjee and Sinha are classmates and see eye to eye on many issues, including poetry. But while Bhattacharjee does not claim a scientific temper, Sinha openly declares his ignorance of politics. "I don't understand politics. I don't want to understand it," he said.

Pointing out that nuclear energy would not just secure the state's future energy needs but also bring about the much-needed shift from dirty power to green power, the Padma Shri awardee said it would also generate employment for at least 7,000 scientists.

"The DAE has proposed seven nuclear plants at Haripur. If this happens, it will be a huge boost for science in the state and inspire thousands of students to take up pure science instead of technology and management," he said, adding that a failure would cost the state 100-times dearer than the Nano loss.

He urged students to resist the temptation of easy money by pursuing IT and management. "Imagine the freedom of working on your own, being creative and being paid reasonably well for doing so. That is the life of a scientist. On the other hand, there is IT where you are told what to do. There is a lot of money but creativity gets throttled," he told the 700-odd class XI students from across the state.

Sinha told TOI that students from rural Bengal were among the brightest minds in the world. "Some of our young scientists who have been working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project in Cern, Geneva, are from rural areas," he said.
 

A.V.

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IAEA approves extra nuclear inspection pact for India

VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog governors on Tuesday approved a deal allowing extra inspections of India's atomic industry, a condition of a U.S.-led deal allowing New Delhi to import nuclear technology after a 33-year freeze.

Passage of an "Additional Protocol" somewhat expanding the International Atomic Energy Agency's monitoring rights in India came a month after New Delhi signed a basic nuclear safeguards accord opening its civilian nuclear plants to U.N. inspections.

The 31-page protocol would broadly give IAEA inspectors more information on India's nuclear-related exports, imports and source material, diplomats familiar with the issue said.

But some members of the 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors joined the consensus vote only with reluctance, they said.

Skeptics felt that while heightened U.N. safeguards were a net gain for a country outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), they could have been stronger had there been more time for negotiations, they added.

"Switzerland, Ireland, Cuba and South Africa protested that the agreement was handed to the board only two days ago, too late to thoroughly assess whether it will really contribute to disarmament," one diplomat in the closed-door meeting said.

"It doesn't because there are no provisions to ensure India cannot divert into its military nuclear sector nuclear materials and know-how it obtains abroad for the civilian sector."

The protocol, entitled "Nuclear Verification -- The Conclusion of Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols" -- would give inspectors wider access to India's program but not as much as in countries that have signed the NPT.

"The agency will not mechanistically or systematically seek to verify information obtained. Verification activities in question are not linked to quantitative yardsticks like inventories of nuclear materials," the pact's preamble said.

"The frequency and intensity of (IAEA checks) shall be kept to the minimum consistent" with the aim of improving safeguards.

SUPPLIERS LIFT NUCLEAR BAN ON INDIA

IAEA oversight was stipulated when the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed in September to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India, imposed after its first nuclear test in 1974 and for its refusal to join the NPT.

India, Pakistan and Israel are the only countries never to have never signed the NPT.

Washington pushed through the NSG "waiver" because this was indispensable to implementing its own 2005 nuclear cooperation pact to supply India with nuclear technology.

U.S. officials said the deal, a major plank in former U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy, would forge a strategic partnership with India, help it meet soaring energy demand, reduce fossil fuel emissions linked to climate change, and open up a nuclear market worth billions of dollars.

Disarmament advocates complained that it undercut the NPT, meant to prevent the spread and production of nuclear weapons.

They fear Indian access to foreign nuclear materials could allow it to divert more of its limited indigenous supplies to its bomb program and drive historical foe Pakistan into another arms race.

After its first nuclear test in 1974, India conducted a series of nuclear tests in 1998, prompting rival Pakistan to follow suit within weeks.

IAEA safeguards require India to open up 14 of 22 reactors to inspections by 2014. New Delhi must still specify which reactors will come under inspection, an Indian government official said last month.

India's Additional Protocol lists some 100 nuclear-use materials and hardware to come under monitoring including entire reactors and heavy-water plants, reactor-core graphite, coolant and vacuum pumps, parts for fuel-producing centrifuges, spectrometers, uranium metal products and laser systems.



http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE52260L20090303?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
 

nitesh

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http://www.ptinews.com/pti\ptisite.nsf/0/92D0345015C4E1E365257574005EC1B3?OpenDocument

Menon played a key role in Indo-US nuclear deal: State Dept



Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 9 (PTI) Acknowledging the significant role played by the Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon in the realization of the landmark Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, the State Department today said he was the "key player" in brokering the deal.

"Foreign Secretary Menon was a key player in terms of helping bring about or brokering the -- the US-India nuclear- civil accord," State Department Acting Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters at his daily press briefing.

Menon is in Washington to discuss with top officials of Obama Administration on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. He is also scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

He was having meetings with the Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, and Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke.

Later in the day after his meeting with Clinton, Menon was scheduled to proceed to White House for a meeting with the National Security Advisor Admrial James Jones. This is the first highest level interaction between the two countries after Obama was sworn in as the US President on January 20. PTI
 

nitesh

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again this:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...es-to-India-Australia/articleshow/4288070.cms

"The present labour government (of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd) is very particular about this issue and there is no chance of laxity in its stand," the envoy, who was here for a media seminar, added.

"In fact, the previous prime minister of Australia, John Howard, was somewhat lenient and ready for negotiations with India. If this deal had happened during his government then the situation could have been different," McCarthy stated.
I think we need to wait for the government change
 

nitesh

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good thinking from part of BJP

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/22/stories/2009032256230900.htm

SINGAPORE: There will be “no rewinding” of the India-United States civil nuclear energy agreement, if the Bharatiya Janata Party were to come to power following the general elections.

Indicating this, Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has said here that “an era of rescinding [inter-state] agreements,” in the event of changes of governments, would only “add to the chaos that the world already has.”

Answering questions at a meeting with the Foreign Correspondents’ Association on Friday, Mr. Singh said: “We will [if in power again] continue with the [India-U.S.] agreement. It might have deficiencies with the detail, which we will of course endeavour to rectify over time.”
 

nitesh

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interesting now seems it will be difficult for US companies to get orders from India

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/21/stories/2009032155920900.htm

As a Democratic Congresswoman from California, Ms Tauscher was one of the most prominent critics of the Bush administration’s push to open the doors of global nuclear commerce for India. Not only did she vote against the ‘123 agreementR 17; in the House last year but she also proposed amending the terms of the deal to make the cut-off of fissile material production by India a precondition when the Hyde Act was before Congress in 2006.
After the Nuclear Suppliers Group waived its rules to allow trade with India last September, Ms. Tauscher called it a “dark day for global efforts to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction.” In a withering attack on the decision, she predicted that “this shortsighted step will ironically do very little for the American nuclear industry, as India will likely buy nuclear technology from Russia and other suppliers.”
On the Indian front, her direct role would be limited to working the inter-agency process within the Beltway on the potentially thorny issue of finalising reprocessing arrangements and procedures for any reactors the U.S. sells to India. The Indian Department of Atomic Energy has made it clear it will not buy any American reactor until the reprocessing details are worked out to its satisfaction. And given the background of her opposition to the nuclear deal, Ms Tauscher is likely to push for terms that India may consider intrusive or undesirable.
 

nitesh

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http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/03/22/stories/2009032251360300.htm

IAEA sees India emerging N-manufacturing power

May become major contributor to global construction expertise.

Globally, a shortage of contractors with nuclear certification, key component manufacturers and that of skilled workers is already being felt.

Anil Sasi

New Delhi, March 21 The global nuclear renaissance could potentially see a big chunk of new equipment manufacturing capabilities shifting eastwards.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expects India, along with China and South Korea, to figure as big contributors to global nuclear construction expertise and core manufacturing capacity, going forward. This includes the growth of nuclear capability through localisation of many of the skills and capabilities in the Asian countries, according to IAEA’s “International Status and Prospect of Nuclear Power” report.

“During the period of peak construction there were major nuclear system supply companies in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US… (Now) in India, China and the Republic of Korea, the growth of nuclear capability through localisation of many of the skills and capabilities provides the possibility that these countries may contribute further to meeting the world’s need for nuclear construction expertise,” the report has noted.

Forgings space

In the wake of the opening up of the Indian nuclear market, the domestic industry has unveiled plans to step-up nuclear manufacturing in a big way, with an eye on both the domestic market and possible export opportunities. This includes plans by Bharat Forge, which has already tied-up with French nuclear major Areva, to set up a nuclear forgings facility. Engineering majors Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) are also eyeing the nuclear forgings space.
Besides, tie-ups by L&T and BHEL for reactor equipment manufacture and the conventional island portion of new Light Water Reactor-based nuclear projects are on the anvil. While L&T has already tied-up with Westinghouse and AECL of Canada for reactor manufacture, BHEL is slated to follow suit and is evaluating joint venture opportunities.

The IAEA report notes that designers of currently available nuclear steam supply systems have been reduced to a small group who increasingly work closely together. “The nuclear supply industry has adjusted to the past 25 or so years through 18 consolidations. Questions have been raised about whether there is capacity available to meet the near term demand if the high growth projections for nuclear power come true… There is some evidence of concern about the industry’s ability to meet demand for key components (such as pressure vessels and key forgings)… An increase in manufacturing capacity will be needed if the higher expectations for growth in new nuclear power plants are to be met,” the report has noted.

No spare capacity

Globally, a shortage of contractors with nuclear certification, key component manufacturers and that of skilled workers is already being felt. Besides the Russian nuclear industry, only two major companies — Japan Steel Works and French firm Creusot Forge — are currently equipped to make critical reactor parts such as pressure vessels. Both these firms are fully booked, with no capacity to spare till 2010.

“There is a big shortage of facilities manufacturing critical equipment, including forgings and castings, for nuclear projects. Indian firms have a big opportunity to step into the critical equipment space,” a senior BHEL official said.
 

pyromaniac

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India lists issues for nuclear deal talks with US

With India and the US approaching another crucial phase of negotiations over implementing the civilian nuclear agreement, India has flagged key issues that it wants to be addressed.


Speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Monday, the prime minister’s special envoy on nuclear issues and climate change, Shyam Saran, said: “Inter-agency process within government has been concluded” for India to join the international nuclear liability convention.

With India’s “letter of intent” to produce up to 10,000 Mw of power using US nuclear reactors, it joining this convention is necessary for US companies to build reactors in India.

As a quid pro quo, while the US is keen that India joins the international nuclear liability convention since it many translate into $150-billion worth of projects, India wants to begin negotiations so that the spent nuclear fuel can be reprocessed in India itself.

As part of the 123 Agreement, India should set up a dedicated reprocessing plant for nuclear fuel obtained from foreign sources. Saran said the new US administration “is ready to engage with us at an early date.”

Saran also highlighted some of India’s concerns. As a step towards India’s integration into the global nuclear market, the prohibitionary mechanisms on the transfer of dual-use technologies to India must go, said Saran.

With specific reference to the US “Entity List,” which details Indian companies barred from purchasing or receiving US technology, he said this list must be “scrapped, sooner rather than later.”

Another problem before the US is its access to India’s booming energy and defence industries. Saran said India’s defence spending on “medium and long-term goals of force upgradation” meant acquisition plan for the next 10 years amount to $120 billion “could be reoriented towards the US” if sticking points — such as India’s doubts about reliability of US supplies and legal issues over end-use monitoring of defence equipment that has been supplied – are satisfactorily addressed.

Also, he said while India has not signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), it would work with the US “on practical steps to discourage proliferation.” With the nuclear deal in the bag, Saran said: “If the world moves categorically towards nuclear disarmament in a credible time-frame, then Indo-US differences over the CTBT would probably recede into the background"


India lists issues for nuclear deal talks with US
 

pyromaniac

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'France to compete hard with US on nuke biz in India'

Washington, March 25: France and the US will fight it out to have a slice of India's 150 billion dollar nuclear pie, French Prime Minister Francois Fillone said, adding this competition will go on "to the end."

"Yes, we are competing with the United States in terms of our nuclear agreement with India," Fillone said in response to a question at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank on competition between the two countries over bagging commercial deals for the civilian nuclear plants in India.

"Let me tell you that this competition will go on to the end. That is to say, until one of us has won — or both of us maybe. There could be two winners. But we are often competing with the United States," he said.

Fillone said this means that both the countries have performing companies which are in competition with firms from other major powers.

"Of course, we are going to keep on fighting and competing loyally with the United States in order to supply India with nuclear power plants for the future — and high-speed trains," Fillone said.


:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::


The way I see it, the more competition the better deal we get so its a win win for all parties involved...
 

EnlightenedMonk

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But, we ought to split the pie equally between the French, US and the Russians to avoid pissing anybody off... and keeps all of them on our side...
 

pyromaniac

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But, we ought to split the pie equally between the French, US and the Russians to avoid pissing anybody off... and keeps all of them on our side...
yeah that is a solid idea too...we will get stuff done faster then
 

EnlightenedMonk

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yeah that is a solid idea too...we will get stuff done faster then
Not only that... once they all are inside the market and tied to us and start enjoying the benefits (money et al) it'll be much more difficult for them to push us around (if it came to that)... and, we can possibly do a bit of arm twisting as well because we'll have an approximately 150 billion dollar gun to snipe them with... hehehehehe... :D:D:D:D:D

The armtwisting may not be required with Russia since they're pretty good friends and France is pretty professional when it comes to business... but the US might have to be reminded from time to time... :D:D:D:D:D

Once they have their Snouts in the Trough, it'll be difficult for them to get out of here...
 
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France,Russia and Japan have the best nuclear energy technology, USA has not even built new reactors in almost 3 decades.
 

EnlightenedMonk

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True, but its better to give them a couple to keep them happy... political reasons more than anything else... what do you think ???
 
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even if they don't build reactors they can supply the fuel and it would be just as good.
 

EnlightenedMonk

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even if they don't build reactors they can supply the fuel and it would be just as good.
Yep, good idea that one... and also periodically keep buying some arms from them... that ought to keep them very happy...
 
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the services we are providing in IT at the low price has a huge impact on the US economy something we usually overlook.
 

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