Experts Caution Against 100% Foreign Equity In Nuclear Plants
India needs to be watchful in allowing 100 per cent foreign equity in nuclear power plants as it may affect indigenous nuclear power programme now at a crucial stage lacking support, say experts.
Prime Minister H D Deve Gowdas remarks on allowing foreign equity in nuclear power plants, published in Japans Nihon Keizai last month, received mixed reactions from nuclear experts who say the proposal may have to clear many hurdles before it becomes a reality, including a change in the Atomic Energy Regulation Act.
The government has set a target to generate 10,000 mw nuclear power by the end of this century. The target will not be achieved as the government did not provide enough funds for new nuclear power plants, Indias foremost nuclear scientist Raja Ramanna, director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, said.
However, Gowda reacting to volley of questions told the Lok Sabha last week that the government had not taken any decision to allow 100 per cent foreign equity in nuclear power plants.
India, at present, operates eight nuclear power plants under the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPC), with a daily capacity of over 1,800 mw meeting 2.5 per cent of the electricity demands, according to official figures.
The Centre approved more than $1 billion in 1990 for the installation of six 500 mw and four 250 mw reactors to help boost Indias total atomic power output to 10,000 mw by the year 2000. However, analysts say, India requires at least $10 billion investment to achieve the target.Experts, who did not want to be identified, feel that invitation to foreign participation would affect Indias indigenous nuclear reactor programme saying once the foreign companies come in, then indigenous research may not get the same attention.
Though India pioneered in the development of nuclear technology in Asia, experts say, it stagnated to cash in on the advantage.
While India is struggling to cross 2000 mw mark, Japan, with its early and consistent support for nuclear power generation, has in place 42,000 mw, C Rajamohan, strategic affairs editor of the Hindu said.
He says the western non-proliferation embargoes imposed after Indian nuclear explosion in 1974 had a considerable impact and India worked hard to overcome the consequences of technology control regimes. When it was ready to press ahead with the construction of new reactors, then came the resource crunch of 1990s, he pointed out.
The future of Indias nuclear power programme, according to experts, looks bright as the indigenously built 30 mw