Nuclear Issues
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YEAR 2013 Select Questions and Answers from the Indian Parliament on Nuclear Issues Compiled by Centre for Nuclear & Arms Control 1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi-110010 Visit us: www.idsa.in Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.475 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.02.2013 PROTEST AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS 475. SHRI SYED SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether in view of the violent protests against the proposed Kudankulam and Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plants, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. has launched a nation wide organised campaign to allay the public apprehensions regarding radioactive radiations from these plants; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVAN CES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANNASAMY): (a) to (c) The ongoing public outreach programmes were intensified following the Fukushima incident to allay the people’s apprehensions about safety of nuclear power, radiation and other related aspects in a credible and structured manner. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has scaled up these programmes adopting a multi-pronged approach. The focus of the outreach have been the local community, decision makemakers & people’s representatives, press and media, students & teachers, opinion makers, and the public at large. The efforts included creation of appropriate public awareness materials and their dissemination to all target groups. **** (http://dae.nic.in/writereaddata/parl/bud2013/lsus475.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 1 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.526 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.02.2013 SETTING UP OF HEAVY WATER UNIT 526. SHRIMATI DARSHANA JARDOSH: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to set up one more unit for production of heavy water at Hazira; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the funds allocated for the purpose; (d) the time by which the plant is likely to start production; and (e) the details of direct and indirect employment likely to be generated locally by the proposed new unit? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY): (a) The Government is proposing to set up additional streams of production of Heavy Water. However, location of the additional facility would be based on techno-feasibility studies. (b) Feasibility Studies, including techno-commercial assessment for setting up additional stream for production of Heavy Water in the existing plants have been commissioned. (c) No funds have been allocated for the purpose. (d) Production from the proposed additional streams may commence in about five years, after final approval of the project. (e) Details of direct and indirect employment likely to be generated from the new stream can be assessed only on finalisation of the project. ***** (http://dae.nic.in/writereaddata/parl/bud2013/lsus526.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 2 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.589 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.02.2013 DELAY IN COMMISSIONING OF JAITAPUR REACTORS 589. SHRI SIVASAMI C.: SHRI R. THAMARAISELVAN: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether it is true that the work on the reactors at Jaitapur has been badly delayed and it is now expected to go on stream in 2016; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the initial estimated cost of Jaitapur reactors as against the current expected cost; (d) whether the Government expects further cost overruns; and (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in th is regard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) : (a)&(b) The scheduled date of commencement of work on the project is in the year 2015. (c)to(e) The figures for the cost of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project will be arrived at upon the conclusion of the ongoing techno-commercial discussions between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and the French side. ***** (http://dae.nic.in/writereaddata/parl/bud2013/lsus589.pdf) Visit us: www.idsa.in 3 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.634 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.02.2013 THORIUM-BASED REACTORS 634. SHRIMATI ANNU TANDON: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether India is actively pursuing a research programme for developing thorium-based reactors for generation of power and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the said research programme is being c arried on in collaboration with other nations and public/private institutions, and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the vast reserves of thorium in Keralais being considered as a national resource and adequately protected; and (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps takenby the Government in this regard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) : (a) Yes, Sir. Thorium plays a pivotal role in Indian Nuclear power programme. Right from the inception of Indian nuclear power programme, work has been carried out on various aspects of thorium utilisation-mining and extraction of thorium, fuel fabrication, irradiation in reactors, reprocessing and refabrication. In addition, studies have been carried out regarding use of thorium in different types of reactors. Details of Research Programme: (i) Thorium fuel fabrication through powder pellet route has been well established. Few tons of fuel have been made for CIRUS and Dhruva, Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) and for blanket assemblies for Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR). Few pins have been fabricated using mixed oxides of(Th-Pu) for irradiation in research reactors. (ii) Thoria bundles are used in the initial cores of PHWR. The irradiation experience of thoria fuel in the research reactors CIRUS and Dhruva, PHWR and test irradiations are satisfactory. (iii) The thoria pins of CIRUS have been reprocessed to obtain U233. The recovered U233has been fabricated as fuel for KAMINI reactor at Kalpakkam. The Post Irradiation Examination of one of the thoria bundle irradiated in PHWR has also been carried out for validation of theoretical analyses. Visit us: www.idsa.in 4 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre (iv) Studies have been carried out regarding use of thorium in different types of reactors with respect to fuel management, reactor control and fuel utilisation. ...2 -2- (v)A Critical Facility for Advanced Heavy Water Reactor has been commissioned in 2008 and is used for carrying out experiments to further validate the physics design features of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor. (v) A small research reactor KAMINI with 30 kWth capacity which utilises nuclear fuel based on Uranium-233 derived from irradiation of thorium, has been in operation at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam. Generation of power from Thorium: (i) While it is true that Thorium can be used to produce nuclear energy, it should be noted that Thorium cannot be used directly. Thoriumdoes not contain any fissile isotope, hence it cannot be used in a reactor alone. It can be used with added fissile material that can be either enriched Uranium, Plutonium or Uranium-233 (obtained after irradiation of Thorium). (ii) Thorium absorbs the neutrons, which can more efficiently produce more Plutonium in Fast Breeder Reactor for a faster growth. Therefore, using Thorium in the first, or an early part of second stage of nuclear power programme will adversely affect the rate of growth of nuclear power generation capacityin the initial periods. (iii) Due to these reasons, large scale deployment of Thorium is to be postponed till the later part of the second stage. Thorium is to be introduced only at an optimal point during operation of Fast Breeder Reactors in the second stage. Thorium, for power generation is to be used mainly in the third stage.The time taken for large scale thorium deployment is around 3 - 4 decades after the commercial operation of Fast Breeder Reactors with short doubling time. All efforts towards technology development and demonstration are made, so that a mature technology is available in time. The third stage of Indian nuclear power programme contemplates making use of Uranium-233 to fuel Uranium-233 – Thorium based reactors, which can provide energy independence to the country for several centuries. (iv) To accelerate thorium utilisation, BARC has designed an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) to serve as a technology demonstrator. The 300 MWe reactor is specially meant for demonstration of large scale commercial utilisation of thorium, generating nearly 70% of its power from in-situ burn up of thorium. The design of all nuclear systems of the reactor has been completed and associated confirmatory R&D is in a very advanced stage. Detailed engineering is being carried out in consultancy mode. (b)No, Sir. (c)&(d) Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive chemical element and it plays a pivotal role in Indian Nuclear power programme. The Government has notified Thorium as Prescribed Substance under the Atomic Energy Act 1962. The Government has also notified Visit us: www.idsa.in 5 Nuclear and Arms Control Centre Atomic Energy (Working of the Mines, Minerals and Handling of Prescribed Substances) Rules 1984 under which no person shall mine, mill, process and/or handle any ore mineral or other material from which any one or more of the Prescribed Substances can be extracted,without obtaining a license and except in accordance with the terms and conditions of such license.