‘People confuse n-power with n-bomb’
November 13, 2011
By B.R. Srikanth
DC
Dr M.R. Srinivasan
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Dr M.R. Srinivasan, former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, tells B.R. Srikanth that nuclear power is cheaper than other options, and that India must accept the challenge to produce nuclear energy in a safe manner.
Dr M.R. Srinivasan, as, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), was instrumental in forging the Indo-Soviet agreement on reactors for Koodankulam in December 1988, and identified the site for the project as well. He believes that people in the vicinity of the project are being misled by anti-nuke activists.
First, he says, the reactors are not only the best in the world, but also incorporate additional safety features like the passive cooling system recommended by the AEC. Second, not a single family was displaced as the site chosen was an open beach. Third, fisheries will not be affected, nor will the government acquire additional land.
Dr Srinivasan has been talking at length about the safety aspects of Indian nuclear power plants in recent weeks, and will address a rally along with Union ministers in Chennai today.
He insists that nuclear power is cheaper than other options, like solar, wind and gas, and that nuclear power plants are not nuclear bombs.
Edited excerpts of the interview:
The protests against Koodankulam nuclear power plant seem to be gaining support near the project?
I am not sure if more people are joining the protests, but the protests are continuing. It is only a misunderstanding of the situation and is based on unfounded fears; fears which are being exaggerated by certain people from here and outside, and anti-nuke sentiments are being drummed up. It is unfortunate that people who are the beneficiaries are not supporting it and are blind to reality.
Why are people protesting when the project is nearing completion?
The trigger is certainly the Fukushima accident, but one must bear in mind that earthquakes or tsunamis of such severity will never hit this area. We had an earthquake in Sikkim of 6.7 intensity which was very severe in the Indian context but less than 100 times the quake near Fukushima.
The quake in Koodankulam area about 100 years ago was less than 100 times that in Sikkim, which means they are more than 10,000 times weaker. We can build reactors to withstand such quakes and we have added more safety measures.
Furthermore, the passive heat removing system was insisted upon by Indian scientists to dissipate the heat from reactors to the atmosphere without even the help of a pump. People don’t want to understand things. They are being misled by those like Uday Kumar, Praful Bidwai, and anti-nuke groups which are all around the world.
In Koodankulam, people from the US, Finland, France and Australia are with the protesters. Some people are ideologically driven and confuse nuclear power with the nuclear bomb. There are 440 nuclear reactors across the world which do not produce the fuel for nuclear bombs. Look at downstream disruption if we don’t have power. These activists will oppose nuclear and coal based power. Can we run large companies on solar or wind energy?
So, will atomic scientists reach out to people and dispel these misgivings?
Not only atomic scientists, but the entire country must have scientific temper. Of course, we will explain more, but I have a question: Why are the educated uninterested? They can’t be bystanders. If we give in to protests, all our economic activity will come to a standstill as these activists will find one reason or another to protest against all power projects.
Was Dr Kalam unsuccessful in his mission of visiting Koodankulam and talking about safety of the plant?
Dr Kalam went there as a scientist to find out for himself what the situation is. Right now, it looks as if only the activists are hogging the limelight. The state government, knowingly or otherwise, is encouraging protesters. I believe a group in support of the project was not be allowed to stage a demonstration as that could create law and order problems. I am saying, the state government must show interest, as this plant is for largely for the good of Tamil Nadu.
We are sure that our experts group will address all apprehensions. There are 25 reactors of this type in operation in Russia, Czech Republic, China, Hungary and Bulgaria. Ours will have more features like the passive cooling system and a core-catcher to gather the fuel in case of a mishap. That’s why it is called the advanced third generation reactor. If more information on Fukushima accident comes in, we are ready for more safety backfits.
Will the project be delayed due to protests?
It looks inevitable. We don’t know how long the protests will drag on. More than 1,500 people who were working on the site have gone away following the protests. There is only a skeletal staff and they are waiting for the confusion to end. If the protest had not started, we could have started power generation in December 2011.
Some experts are suggesting that we explore other options, pointing to countries like Germany that have announced that they will not set up new nuclear plants?
Let them demonstrate how to manage big complexes and IT companies with solar and wind energy. In states like Karnataka, we can’t get coal. Power from Koodankulam will be sold at less than Rs 3 per kilowatt an hour, much cheaper than solar and wind or gas-based power. Germany has built up its infrastructure, hospitals and schools and so it doesn’t need much power for expansion.
They have gas from Europe and buy power from France. Likewise with Belgium. We don’t have such options. People must apply their mind rather than wear blinkers and criticise nuclear projects.
But will the safety concerns be addressed in nuclear power plants?
Safety is a concern, but the challenge is to produce nuclear power in a safe manner. But, are we safety conscious when we overload bridges, overload boats and buses and set off crackers in the middle of the road? France is operating 60 reactors without a problem. So the challenge is to generate power in a safe manner.
We hope sane voices will speak up and be heard and everyone will realise that we have good reactors.
We must talk to people who are “uncommitted” and list their support and marginalise the obstructionists. I am doing this on my own, as I believe this country needs nuclear power. So, I am writing on my own and addressing meetings about safe nuclear power.
November 13, 2011
By B.R. Srikanth
DC
Dr M.R. Srinivasan
=================================================
Dr M.R. Srinivasan, former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, tells B.R. Srikanth that nuclear power is cheaper than other options, and that India must accept the challenge to produce nuclear energy in a safe manner.
Dr M.R. Srinivasan, as, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), was instrumental in forging the Indo-Soviet agreement on reactors for Koodankulam in December 1988, and identified the site for the project as well. He believes that people in the vicinity of the project are being misled by anti-nuke activists.
First, he says, the reactors are not only the best in the world, but also incorporate additional safety features like the passive cooling system recommended by the AEC. Second, not a single family was displaced as the site chosen was an open beach. Third, fisheries will not be affected, nor will the government acquire additional land.
Dr Srinivasan has been talking at length about the safety aspects of Indian nuclear power plants in recent weeks, and will address a rally along with Union ministers in Chennai today.
He insists that nuclear power is cheaper than other options, like solar, wind and gas, and that nuclear power plants are not nuclear bombs.
Edited excerpts of the interview:
The protests against Koodankulam nuclear power plant seem to be gaining support near the project?
I am not sure if more people are joining the protests, but the protests are continuing. It is only a misunderstanding of the situation and is based on unfounded fears; fears which are being exaggerated by certain people from here and outside, and anti-nuke sentiments are being drummed up. It is unfortunate that people who are the beneficiaries are not supporting it and are blind to reality.
Why are people protesting when the project is nearing completion?
The trigger is certainly the Fukushima accident, but one must bear in mind that earthquakes or tsunamis of such severity will never hit this area. We had an earthquake in Sikkim of 6.7 intensity which was very severe in the Indian context but less than 100 times the quake near Fukushima.
The quake in Koodankulam area about 100 years ago was less than 100 times that in Sikkim, which means they are more than 10,000 times weaker. We can build reactors to withstand such quakes and we have added more safety measures.
Furthermore, the passive heat removing system was insisted upon by Indian scientists to dissipate the heat from reactors to the atmosphere without even the help of a pump. People don’t want to understand things. They are being misled by those like Uday Kumar, Praful Bidwai, and anti-nuke groups which are all around the world.
In Koodankulam, people from the US, Finland, France and Australia are with the protesters. Some people are ideologically driven and confuse nuclear power with the nuclear bomb. There are 440 nuclear reactors across the world which do not produce the fuel for nuclear bombs. Look at downstream disruption if we don’t have power. These activists will oppose nuclear and coal based power. Can we run large companies on solar or wind energy?
So, will atomic scientists reach out to people and dispel these misgivings?
Not only atomic scientists, but the entire country must have scientific temper. Of course, we will explain more, but I have a question: Why are the educated uninterested? They can’t be bystanders. If we give in to protests, all our economic activity will come to a standstill as these activists will find one reason or another to protest against all power projects.
Was Dr Kalam unsuccessful in his mission of visiting Koodankulam and talking about safety of the plant?
Dr Kalam went there as a scientist to find out for himself what the situation is. Right now, it looks as if only the activists are hogging the limelight. The state government, knowingly or otherwise, is encouraging protesters. I believe a group in support of the project was not be allowed to stage a demonstration as that could create law and order problems. I am saying, the state government must show interest, as this plant is for largely for the good of Tamil Nadu.
We are sure that our experts group will address all apprehensions. There are 25 reactors of this type in operation in Russia, Czech Republic, China, Hungary and Bulgaria. Ours will have more features like the passive cooling system and a core-catcher to gather the fuel in case of a mishap. That’s why it is called the advanced third generation reactor. If more information on Fukushima accident comes in, we are ready for more safety backfits.
Will the project be delayed due to protests?
It looks inevitable. We don’t know how long the protests will drag on. More than 1,500 people who were working on the site have gone away following the protests. There is only a skeletal staff and they are waiting for the confusion to end. If the protest had not started, we could have started power generation in December 2011.
Some experts are suggesting that we explore other options, pointing to countries like Germany that have announced that they will not set up new nuclear plants?
Let them demonstrate how to manage big complexes and IT companies with solar and wind energy. In states like Karnataka, we can’t get coal. Power from Koodankulam will be sold at less than Rs 3 per kilowatt an hour, much cheaper than solar and wind or gas-based power. Germany has built up its infrastructure, hospitals and schools and so it doesn’t need much power for expansion.
They have gas from Europe and buy power from France. Likewise with Belgium. We don’t have such options. People must apply their mind rather than wear blinkers and criticise nuclear projects.
But will the safety concerns be addressed in nuclear power plants?
Safety is a concern, but the challenge is to produce nuclear power in a safe manner. But, are we safety conscious when we overload bridges, overload boats and buses and set off crackers in the middle of the road? France is operating 60 reactors without a problem. So the challenge is to generate power in a safe manner.
We hope sane voices will speak up and be heard and everyone will realise that we have good reactors.
We must talk to people who are “uncommitted” and list their support and marginalise the obstructionists. I am doing this on my own, as I believe this country needs nuclear power. So, I am writing on my own and addressing meetings about safe nuclear power.
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