Koodankulam site good for four to six nuke reactors: M R Srinivasan

Chennai:

The Koodankulam site is good for four or even six reactors if the present stalemate can be resolved soon, according to former chairman and member of Atomic Energy Commission.

His statement comes in the wake of India and Russia on Friday not finalizing the agreement for third and fourth reactor while finalising the terms of reference for the Line of Credit for the third and fourth units.

Speaking to reporters after a discussion meet on nuclear energy safety aspects, public perceptions here on Friday evening, he parried questions on nuclear liability law and said while the first two reactors don’t come under the nuclear liability law as the agreement with Russia was signed in 1988 when there was no civil nuclear liability law in India.

However, he said talks are going on over bringing the other reactors under the ambit of nuclear liability law and refused to comment further.

He said the reactors in Koodankulam is designed for a 40 year period and the the investment, which is now around Rs 15,000 crore will be recovered in next 30 years.

Srinivasan also added that the cost of power generated from the Koodankulam plant will be less than Rs 3.

He also said after post-Fukushima, Japan is again relying on nuclear power and so do other countries. “It is true Gremany is shutting down some its reactors as they are buying nuclear power from France and Gas from Russia. And if need permits they can again fall back on nuclear power by exporting reactors from France,” the former scientist said while highlighting the safety features of reactors in koodankulam and the need for nuclear for energy security.

He said India’s has a small nuclear capacity of 3 per cent and we want to attain the target of 30 to 40 per cent by the end of this decade as the other sources of energy are slowly depleting or are very costly.