Will we not have nuclear, to power India?

Although the NSG deal is being cited as the answer to the country’s burgeoning energy needs, the fact remains that nuclear power only provides 3 per cent of India’s energy at present and this will rise to 7 per cent with all the additional nuclear power plants which the US, France and Russia, among others perhaps, will supply.

The Planning Commission itself has admitted the contribution of nuclear power to the total installed generating capacity by 2031-32 will be only about 5%. Nuclear power at best can produce between 4,000 to 40,000 MW (not even 10% of our electricity requirement)

At a time, when the world is tearing down nuclear plants, India has put in a lot of effort to sign the treaty, we question why do we not put that effort into renewables when they are the solution. According to Professor T Michael Kumar, Director, School of Mechanical Science, Karunya University “Although we have got nuclear deal it would take some time before the deal actually materializes in terms of electrical supply. Where as the solar energy is available, right now various ways of tapping the solar energy is possible. The cells are easily available and you can convert the solar energy into electricity and use it for various appliances”

Hazard to Life -
Nuclear reactors contain large amounts of radioactive material; this is an immense health hazard. India’s nuclear facilities reveals poor practices and routine accidents, ranging from leaks of oil to complete loss of power in a reactor causing all safety systems to be disabled. Although as yet in India, there has not been a severe accident – but there is a clear danger.

Cost -
Nuclear is not cheap as it has been portrayed, According to experts - when we look at the true cost of nuclear and add the cost of decommissioning the power plant (which takes about 15 years ) the cost becomes approx Rs 12 Rs per KWH - much more expensive than off the shelf renewables.

Not a Clean Fuel -
There are emissions during extraction of uranium and the decommissioning of the nuclear reactor. Nuclear hence is not truly clean.

India’s energy security
India is poorly endowed with Uranium; the most commonly used nuclear fuel. India will have to completely depend upon export to fulfill its nuclear