Modi to meet BARC scientists today

Prime Minister to be briefed on new reactors, rcycle plants, healtch care benefits, drinking water technology

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact for the first time with scientists from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre’s (BARC) Trombay facility in north east Mumbai on Monday.

A DAE official confirmed Modi's visit to BARC. The official, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also in charge of DAE. He will tour BARC’s facility and would be briefed about India's nuclear programme and future strategy.” The scientists will also update him on the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), which is designed to produce a substantial part of energy from Thorium.

AHWR is another innovative reactor designed for Thorium utilisation, which uses boiling light water as a coolant and heavy water as moderator. It is designed to produce 300 Mw power and will prove to be a technology demonstrator for the Thorium fuel cycle.

Furthermore, a senior nuclear scientist said Modi would also be briefed about the development of technologies for high temperature reactors and hydrogen production processes by BARC.

BARC is also developing hydrogen storage materials as well as fuel cells for applications in the transport and power  generation sectors.

Modi’s visit is quite significant as he recently expressed the government’s commitment to pursue inter-governmental civil nuclear deals and continue the implementation of the ongoing nuclear programme, which focuses on peaceful use of atomic energy. Besides, Modi has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit the Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu where two 1,000 Mw pressurised water reactor units based on Russian technology have been erected.

More importantly, Modi might take up the issue of revisiting India’s “No first use” policy as promised in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s poll manifesto.