New research to ensure safety of nuclear wastes in stable mines

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

India is storing its nuclear wastes in stable mines and research is now underway by Bhaba Atomic Research Centre to study how rocks will be able to withstand mild radiations or temperatures in the longer run to ensure the safety of the nuclear wastes, according to director (technical) Nuclear Power corporation of India Limited S A Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj said that research is being conducted by BARC as well as by scientists across the world to ensure the safety of nuclear waste in the stable mines.

Interestingly, the study to ensure the safety of nuclear waste gained credence after questions arose who will be responsible if an earthquake or new ice age ruptured the rock seal and allowed the radioactivity percolate through the aquifers to the environment.

Bharadwaj says of the 30 tonnes of fuel, only four per cent is used which generates 1.2 tonnes of waste which is equal to three oil drums of waste. “These wastes are kept in stainless steel containers and stored deep in the mines for 10,000 years.

Interestingly, while the world is beating its head over what could be done with the nuclear waste and countries like United States are having a rethink on their policy, India is considering the waste as a treasure for the fast breeder reactor. “The irradiated fuel can be used for the fast breeder reactor and we can process plutonium which can be essential for nuclear deterrence,” Bharadwaj added.

Interestingly, India is a pioneer in fast breeder technology and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic  Research is being used as a benchmark by the International Forum for Generation IV reactors.

Stating that by 2030 fast breeder reactors will be the future, he said that France and Japan are also working towards these areas.

He also said Nuclear Power Corporation of India is marking its silver jubilee this year and the chairman of NPCIL has termed it as ‘Year of education’.

Earlier, S K Jain chief medical superintendent of NPCIL said that there are 77 cases of cancer have been detected in NPCIl operating sites during the last 16 years and this is way below the national average.

Dr V Rangarajan, head, department of bio-imaging Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai tried to allay fears over radiation and said there is no linkage between nuclear power and the occurrence of cancer and nuclear plants do not add to the natural radiation already existing in the nature around these plants.