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Four of the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in
Japan seem to be steadily moving towards progressive core
melting.
If sizeable core melt occurs, very dangerous species of
radioactive fission products in the form of gases, micro-dust
and droplets could spread to large areas, depending on wind
conditions.This inevitably raises real concerns for other
countries, such as India, that have nuclear facilities of
their own.
It is unlikely that the kind of devastating earthquake and
tsunami that hit Japan will strike any of the Indian nuclear
plants. But the earthquake-resistant designs and tsunami
abatement measures we have taken in India's nuclear plants
need a high-level, in-depth review by an independent expert
group.
And in view of the vast nuclear devastation we are observing
in Japan, I strongly urge the Indian government not to proceed
with plans to import reactors from France, Russia and the
United States, including the evolutionary pressurized reactors
(EPRs) from France that are planned for the Jaitapur Project.
Lessons for India
India has built 18 pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) on
its own over the past four decades. We have mastered the
design by learning from the mistakes of the past and are
currently planning to build 700-megawatt (MWe) units of this
type. And we have three generations of Indian engineers who
are familiar with the PHWR.
If we need more nuclear power, the safest route is to
consolidate and expand on our PHWR experience, import natural
uranium and build more PHWRs. We can move on to 1,000-MWe
PHWRs once we have built and gained experience with the
700-MWe units.
If a major accident occurs, Indian engineers and scientists
will be totally familiar with the details of a PHWR and can
rapidly bring the situation under control.
Instead, the government is scattering our energies and talent
in getting imported reactors such as the French EPRs in
Jaitapur, light water reactors which neither India nor France
know much about.
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