India Nuclear News And Discussion

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 05 Oct 2010 08:41

While the country's first-ever underground neutrino observatory will be set up in Theni district

Did they not have a neutrino observatory in the Kolar gold fields in the 70s/80s?

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Oct 2010 10:01

'Indo-US nuke trade unlikely to start unless India signs CSC'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 688434.cms

National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon who was in Washington last week had announced that India will sign CSC.

Prabu · Post by **Prabu** » 05 Oct 2010 18:38

'India shouldn’t cave in to US on nuclear liability'

hmmm, let us wait and see !

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 05 Oct 2010 20:49

sanjaykumar wrote:While the country's first-ever underground neutrino observatory will be set up in Theni district

Did they not have a neutrino observatory in the Kolar gold fields in the 70s/80s?

Actually starting with mid sixties ( I had a chance to visit KGF around 1966) ... with what now some will call "primitive equipment" , TIFR did pioneering work on neutrinos....For example, they were the first to detect atmospheric neutrinos..Some of the KGF "events" are still being studied/discussed..I think experiments stopped around early 90's.

Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO) project is much more ambitious. It will have the largest detector in the world.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 06 Oct 2010 01:27

Surely that is ICE-CUBE.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 06 Oct 2010 01:55

^^^ Okay..may be one of the largest

(But then moon is even larger!

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 06 Oct 2010 02:06

Also From Saurav:
China-Pakistan Deal Harbinger of Nuclear Exceptionalism?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 06 Oct 2010 02:16

Were those chotus ever operationalized?

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 06 Oct 2010 18:14

Any good news from the Indian nuclear sector this past year? One reactor at RAPP was commissioned. A "Bhabhatron"(cancer therapy) was put into operation. What about desalination, gamma ray astronomy, irradiators, cylcotrons, synchrotrons, Tokamaks, supercomputers? Or findings from these instruments?

Prabu · Post by **Prabu** » 06 Oct 2010 19:28

NPC, Uranium Corp to form JV to acquire uranium mines abroad

A good move indeed !

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 09 Oct 2010 02:00

FBTR set to complete 25 years of operations

The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), which emerged as a symbol of the country's self reliance in nuclear power and is one of the six such nuclear facilities functioning the world over, is set to celebrate its silver jubilee of operations next week.
...
...
FBTR was built with French technology, based on the design of the Rapsodie reactor which was in operation in the sixties.

With an indigenous component of 80 per cent even in the seventies, FBTR is a standing testimony to the capability of Indian industries to rise to the challenges of any new demanding technology, it added.

FBTR utilizes a novel fuel in the form of carbides of Plutonium and Uranium. The Pu content of the fuel is high (at 70 per cent) which makes it unique in the world.
"Its performance has been excellent in terms of the energy that can be extracted out of every gram," it said adding that the carbide fuel has reached a burn-up of 165kWd/g without any breach of its outer clad.

...
...
The sensitive leak detection systems of the steam generators which can detect nanogram levels of hydrogen in sodium have been in flawless, continuous operation for nearly 18 years, the statement said.
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...

Prabu · Post by **Prabu** » 09 Oct 2010 14:57

I got this information by email. This is an interesting news. A Tamil Nuclear Engineer has invented a Technology for production of electricity ! Apologies, if already posted.

Bloom Box K.R. Sridhar-Part 1
Bloom Box K.R. Sridhar-Part 2

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 09 Oct 2010 15:32

Prabu ji,

Thanks for the links. I looked up the videos and other related videos.

I'm breathless! Way to go!

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 10 Oct 2010 09:32

India-Japan nuclear talks inconclusive

http://www.thehindu.com/news/article822190.ece

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 10 Oct 2010 19:03

Asian nuclear conference starts Monday

Senior officials of India's nuclear energy establishment will discuss all aspects and potential of atomic power with their global counterparts at the three-day International Conference on Asian Nuclear Prospects (ANUP 2010) starting here Oct 11.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 11 Oct 2010 00:51

Prabhu - There was a recent NYTimes story about its newest customer Adobe
Adobe Plants Fuel Cells

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 11 Oct 2010 09:10

India ready to export indigenous 220 MW and 540 MW capacity pressurised heavy water reactors

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 11 Oct 2010 10:40

500MW Fast Breeder Reactor Prototype to be Ready by First Quarter of 2012

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 12 Oct 2010 12:31

India Weighs Measure to Ease Nuclear Liability

India is drafting new regulations to assuage nuclear-power companies' concerns over their potential liability for accidents, a move aimed at securing deals with U.S. nuclear suppliers ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama next month, a top Indian official said.

Prithviraj Chavan, minister of state in the office of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the official who ushered the nuclear-liability law through India's parliament, said in an interview that the rules being written to implement that law will alleviate the concerns of foreign suppliers.

"We'll clarify what the responsibilities of suppliers will be," Mr. Chavan said. "There will be some responsibilities, but they won't be liable for 80 years, as some people are interpreting the law. I hope at the end of the day we'll have an acceptable solution."

Under India's law, the cap on liability for any nuclear accident is about $322 million. Although plant operators would be primarily responsible for accidents, they could seek "recourse" by suing suppliers.

It isn't clear what the specifics of the new Indian regulations will be and whether they will go far enough to persuade foreign companies to sell their technology to India. The firms would prefer to repeal the law, or at least the provision that allows operators to sue suppliers. Another option U.S. and Indian officials considered was a government-to-government pact that would effectively indemnify U.S. suppliers, people familiar with the matter said.

I remember something similar to the bolded part mentioned by the Russians as well. What does that mean for the people affected by an unfortunate accident?

Why have a law when everybody is let to use a backdoor?

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 12 Oct 2010 12:42

IOC may acquire 49% in NPCIL JV

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 12 Oct 2010 12:46

India eyeing 63,000 MW nuclear power capacity by 2032: NPCIL

He also said India would export 220 MW, 540 MW and 700 MW PHWRs by 2032. Beyond 2032, large capacity addition would be taken up by setting up metallic fuel FBRs and introduction of reactors based on thorium 232 and uranium 233 fuel cycle.

Currently, India was in a position for setting up its export model 220 MW PHWR in friendly countries, he said.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 12 Oct 2010 23:00

Sigh, India is also eying five giga tera km light year metric tonnes of antimatter power by the year 23145687905.

Sanatanan · Post by **Sanatanan** » 15 Oct 2010 06:45

N-reactor hard sell pitch hijacks research agenda

Oct. 13: The ANUP-2010, a conference on Asian Nuclear Prospects-2010, described by Dr Baldev Raj, director, Indira Gandhi Centre For Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, as an attempt to establish international collaborative research in nuclear sciences between Indian and foreign scientists has become more a playing field for major nuclear reactor builders to market their products in India.

“We do not mind their coming here and evangelizing for their products. Their companies pay them for it. But sadly, some of our own scientists have turned out to be their comrades-in-arms,” a senior Indian scientist told DC. He said some Indian scientists who had not made any contribution towards the country’s indigenous nuclear programmes were hand in glove with these MNCs in their attempts to hard sell their reactors.

“They manage to gatecrash into these sessions either as office bearers of some organisations or through their contacts with the higher ups,” he said. “You ask them whether they have any papers to present or even a poster to display?”
. . . .

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 15 Oct 2010 09:18

India-Japan N-deal runs into hurdles

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-Jap ... 13085.aspx

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 15 Oct 2010 16:50

Published on Oct 15, 2010
By James M. Acton
Japan-India nuclear deal: Striking a balance: Asahi Shimbun

Indeed, Okada's tentative approach seems to reflect the bureaucracy's assumption that Japan is entering negotiations with a weak hand.

They are wrong. Japan has considerable leverage.

Japan has special expertise in manufacturing large and complicated components for both reactor vessels and steam generators (which convert steam into electricity). Indeed, three out of the four modern American and French reactors contain at least one component that can be manufactured in Japan and nowhere else. If India wants to buy any of them, it needs an agreement with Japan.

Of course, Japan's monopoly of supply is unlikely to last forever. But, the very fact that France and United States have been pushing Japan to conclude an agreement is strong evidence that they believe there is no alternative supplier on the horizon.

In contrast, Japan stands to gain little from an agreement.

The anti-Indian Nuclear Ayotallahs just don't give up!

Prabu · Post by **Prabu** » 16 Oct 2010 17:43

If this happens to be true, this will be a nice way for showing middle fi*ger to uncle and hugging Russina, French and others who are ready to supply with Indian terms!

An Indian wake-up call for the us nuclear industry

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 17 Oct 2010 13:25

UK's N-safety issues.

MoD's own experts reveal nuclear arms safety flawsRow with US over arming system put Trident warheads at risk, papers reveal

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oc ... ns-trident

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 17 Oct 2010 14:06

RajeshA wrote:Published on Oct 15, 2010
By James M. Acton
Japan-India nuclear deal: Striking a balance: Asahi Shimbun
Indeed, Okada's tentative approach seems to reflect the bureaucracy's assumption that Japan is entering negotiations with a weak hand.

They are wrong. Japan has considerable leverage.

Japan has special expertise in manufacturing large and complicated components for both reactor vessels and steam generators (which convert steam into electricity). Indeed, three out of the four modern American and French reactors contain at least one component that can be manufactured in Japan and nowhere else. If India wants to buy any of them, it needs an agreement with Japan.

Of course, Japan's monopoly of supply is unlikely to last forever. But, the very fact that France and United States have been pushing Japan to conclude an agreement is strong evidence that they believe there is no alternative supplier on the horizon.

In contrast, Japan stands to gain little from an agreement.
The anti-Indian Nuclear Ayotallahs just don't give up!

I had posted this some time back. Japan provides critical components and some of their welding technology is still unknown in the west.
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... hi#p796998

negi · Post by **negi** » 18 Oct 2010 00:04

Japan will have to give in , if not the GoI the GOTUS will do everything in its capacity to bring the former to the table else without the Japanese both Amriki and French projects would be affected on the other hand the Bear can setup a VVER 1000/1200 type reactor all by itself.

vic · Post by **vic** » 18 Oct 2010 00:07

Japan has no foreign policy except doing what US wants. This just indirect US pressure. If india holds firm, US will give in. If Pakis are US whores then Japan is just a high class you know what!

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 19 Oct 2010 09:18

Germany hopeful India will sign CTBT

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Germa ... TBT/699252

Germany, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, on Monday said it was encouraged by signs that India could be willing to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and sought closer cooperation with India in combating terrorism.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 20 Oct 2010 16:38

Higher Uranium imports to fuel record nuclear output

With uranium imports perking up and domestic fuel supplies improving as well, a record nuclear power generation of 32,000 million units has been set for 2011-12, a good 45 per cent higher than the 22,000 million units envisaged this fiscal.

Augmentation of fuel supplies resulting from the international co-operation and import of uranium for some of state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd's Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), along with increased supply of uranium from domestic sources, have already ensured a 23 per cent surge in nuclear generation during April-September 2010 over the corresponding period last year.

Till August, the country had received 868 tonnes of uranium from France, Russia and Kazakhstan in the year to date, comprising 300 tonnes of natural uranium concentrate from Areva, 58 tonnes as enriched uranium dioxide pellets from Areva, 210 tonnes as natural uranium oxide pellets from Russian firm TVEL and 300 tonnes as natural uranium from KazAtomProm. A total of seven reactors are using imported fuel and working at full power, while nine reactors are using domestic uranium.

jagga · Post by **jagga** » 21 Oct 2010 14:25

India to build observatory to study neutrino particles

India's Department of Atomic Energy has been given clearance to build a multi-million dollar underground facility to study particles called neutrinos.The environment and forests ministry gave the go-ahead for the observatory to be built in the Bodi West hills on the coast of southern Tamil Nadu state.
The facility costing $270m will be only the fifth of its kind in the world. Correspondents say it is one of the biggest and most ambitious scientific projects ever undertaken by India.
One of the scientists leading the project says it could help India gain a leading role in the field of particle research. Neutrinos are elusive, nearly mass-less elementary particles, sometimes called "ghost particles".

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 21 Oct 2010 16:33

deleted

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 22 Oct 2010 04:34

India resists U.S. pushback on nuclear liability

After initially trying to dilute the nuclear liability law at the draft stage to accommodate the concerns of American suppliers, the Manmohan Singh government has told the United States that the Act, as passed by Parliament, is final and that no changes in any of its provisions are possible.

In particular, the Indian side insists that any rules the government might frame to guide the Act's implementation cannot override its provisions, including Section 17(b), which gives Indian operators a ‘right of recourse' against nuclear suppliers in the event of an accident caused by defective equipment.
No voluntary surrender

Indian officials also insist that operators will not be able to “voluntarily surrender” their rights under 17 (b) in any commercial contract signed with foreign reactor suppliers, as allowed, for example, by the nuclear law of South Korea.
...
...

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 22 Oct 2010 05:06

putnanja wrote:India resists U.S. pushback on nuclear liability

After initially trying to dilute the nuclear liability law at the draft stage to accommodate the concerns of American suppliers, the Manmohan Singh government has told the United States that the Act, as passed by Parliament, is final and that no changes in any of its provisions are possible.

In particular, the Indian side insists that any rules the government might frame to guide the Act's implementation cannot override its provisions, including Section 17(b), which gives Indian operators a ‘right of recourse' against nuclear suppliers in the event of an accident caused by defective equipment.
No voluntary surrender

Indian officials also insist that operators will not be able to “voluntarily surrender” their rights under 17 (b) in any commercial contract signed with foreign reactor suppliers, as allowed, for example, by the nuclear law of South Korea.
...
...

If this is indeed true, and there will be no GoI intervention to dilute the supplier liability, then unkil is going to take a hands off attitude on Japan's reluctance to let its companies supply critical technology to Areva and US bidders. This will leave the Russians alone and they will rip us off in a way that makes the Gorky saga look like petty theft.

Secondly, it is entirely possible that by not aligning with the Vienna convention Indian nuclear exports will also have open-ended supplier liability.

Sounds like a path to disaster.

JMT

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 Oct 2010 07:17

Not really. There s a plan to exempt nuts and bolts suppliers while leaving primary systems suppliers with the clause as they are responsible for the proper working of the systems.

Also Japan has to make up its mind what it wants to do taking its economy and geopolitical interests in mind.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 23 Oct 2010 12:39

Before it is too late
By Anil Kakodkar

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 23 Oct 2010 20:20

^^^ Thanks for posting. Very nice article. From this:

say this because nuclear energy is the only commercially viable technology presently available that can cope with the magnitude of the additional electricity requirement in a non-carbon emission mode. All other options would mean either delaying the development of the developing and underdeveloped world or allowing carbon dioxide levels to build up and still hope catastrophe would not occur even though all scientific predictions say otherwise. Unfortunately, in spite of nuclear energy being safe, economical and eco-friendly, there are impediments, raised in a discriminatory manner, that disallow a rational approach to getting over the crisis

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 23 Oct 2010 23:17

Anil Kakodkar wrote:To minimise the development deficit quickly, it is important to rapidly expand deployment of nuclear power and use of viable technologies that offer sufficient security confidence for that purpose wherever necessary.

This piece is self-serving wishful thinking. The fastest and cheapest way to expand electricity generation is by putting up gas based generators followed by other thermal and renewable sources. It is foolish to hope that nuclear energy will be useful in reducing the development deficit anytime soon.