http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/business/global/shunning-nuclear-plants-at-home-japan-pursues-building-them-overseas.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25
The world is hungry for power, especiaaly for electric power. Developing countries like India run a deficit of 40% of demand and the deficit is increasing. The deficit is due to the growing demands of industry, businesses, consumers, infra structure. Thermal power plants based on coal, gas suffer the lack of input fuel.
Power from unconventional / renewable sources are costly.
Nuclear power plants have been in use for decades. In many countries, nuclear power constitute a substantial part of the total power generated. Nuclear power is comparable in cost to thermal power. But the source material is abundant.
The problem with nuclear power is the danger of radiation contamination in case the power plant is damaged.
This has happened in many places - three mile island in the US, Chernobyl in Russia and Fukushima in Japan.
The chenobyl plant blew up due to internal reasons. The fukushima plant was hit by earthquake of magnitude 9 and the resulting Tsunami, which cut off the cooling system of the plant.
Based on these reasons, the Kudankulam 1000 MW plant in Tamil Nadu which sits at the sea level at the southern most tip of Tamil Nadu is facing the resistance of local people for opening.
This is a critical junction for us to think and decide the wisdom and necessity of having Nuclear Power plants in our country.
The reasoning is if the nuclear plant is built to withstand earthquakes with adequate safety shut down systems, then it will be safe to run a nuclear power plant. Modern technology has the means to do that.
We cannot generate enough power using only the fossil fuels. Power from wind energy and solar power is a long way to catch up and fill the demand gap. Further they are dependant on the presence of wind and the sun.
Hence, meanwhile, we can have nuclear power plants with adequate safety. Then we can have good progress in the industry and development.
The world is hungry for power, especiaaly for electric power. Developing countries like India run a deficit of 40% of demand and the deficit is increasing. The deficit is due to the growing demands of industry, businesses, consumers, infra structure. Thermal power plants based on coal, gas suffer the lack of input fuel.
Power from unconventional / renewable sources are costly.
Nuclear power plants have been in use for decades. In many countries, nuclear power constitute a substantial part of the total power generated. Nuclear power is comparable in cost to thermal power. But the source material is abundant.
The problem with nuclear power is the danger of radiation contamination in case the power plant is damaged.
This has happened in many places - three mile island in the US, Chernobyl in Russia and Fukushima in Japan.
The chenobyl plant blew up due to internal reasons. The fukushima plant was hit by earthquake of magnitude 9 and the resulting Tsunami, which cut off the cooling system of the plant.
Based on these reasons, the Kudankulam 1000 MW plant in Tamil Nadu which sits at the sea level at the southern most tip of Tamil Nadu is facing the resistance of local people for opening.
This is a critical junction for us to think and decide the wisdom and necessity of having Nuclear Power plants in our country.
The reasoning is if the nuclear plant is built to withstand earthquakes with adequate safety shut down systems, then it will be safe to run a nuclear power plant. Modern technology has the means to do that.
We cannot generate enough power using only the fossil fuels. Power from wind energy and solar power is a long way to catch up and fill the demand gap. Further they are dependant on the presence of wind and the sun.
Hence, meanwhile, we can have nuclear power plants with adequate safety. Then we can have good progress in the industry and development.
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