The project, unlike coal, would emit only limited waste. Even these wastes would be carefully handled and disposed off. The marine life would not be affected in any manner.
The Kudankulam nuclear project is both viable and eco-friendly, said Daniel Chellappa, senior scientist, Advanced Nuclear Fuels, Department of Atomic Energy, here on Thursday.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Kudankulam nuke project: safe and eco-friendly' organised by the Rotary Clubs of Tiruchi Fort, Tiruchi Midtown and Tiruchi Rockcity, he said that the depleting reserves of coal, expensive outlay for tapping solar energy, and uncertainty in wind have all made energy generation a great challenge .
Explaining the technical details of the Kudankulam project, he said the geographical location of Kudankulam, proved to be an advantageous factor for the project, protecting it from any earthquake or tsunami. However, all precautionary measures had been taken to
protect it scientifically. “It had been built at an elevation, ensuring the safety to fission process equipment,” he said. The in-built sensors to instantly suspend fission in case of exigencies are another advantage,” he said.
The project, unlike coal, would emit only limited waste. Even these wastes would be carefully handled and disposed off. The marine life would not be affected in any manner.
The assured availability of uranium from Russia, and safe disposal of nuclear waste was one of the merits of the project.
Later, he replied to questions from the participants and clarified their doubts. S.Swaminathan, T.Kumaravelu and S.Ravi Subramanian, presidents of the Rotary Clubs of Tiruchi Fort, Tiruchi Midtown and Tiruchi Rockcity clubs were present.
Apropos to Mr.Ramaswamy Kumar's observations, can the Dept. of Atomic
Energy give out the net contribution of the Kalpakkam Nuclear Energy Plant from its inception to make thing clear as Mr.Kumar's figures seem to indicate almost negative contribution by such plants. A clarification will highly educative and informative.
The Indian Nuclear Power Programme, if it is to have 24000 MW capacity installed by 2040, will demand coal power of 10000 to 15000 MW and Hydro Power of at least 20% of this to meet the embedded energy and construction energy requirements and waste management energy. And the energy capacity delivered to society will be -8000 to -10000 MW till 2040! So till 2040 for just 24000 MW of nukes we require an equal coal capacity (include maintenance and forced outages) and 5000 to 6000 MW hydro to meet the gargantuan energy needs of the nuclear power programme. And from 20040 to 2070 for another 24000 MW of nuclear capacity we will continue to feed the nuclear power programme like before and again no power will be available to society after meeting the nuke needs. It's foolhardy to embark on nukes.
Please Email the Editor