Indian Civil Nuclear News & Discussions.

[jeet]

Good going india,,, Its good to explore and use our uranium too..it will be cheaper compared to imported ones..

[beckham]

India All Set To Export 220 MWe PHWRs To Kazakhstan
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 00:00

India is poised to emerge as an exporter of cost-effective, small-sized 220 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to countries with smaller grids. And Kazakhstan will possibly be the first overseas market for Indian-made 220 MWe PHWRs.


Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Kazakhstan’s nuclear utility Kazatomprom are at an advanced stage of discussion and a feasibility study on using Indian PHWR designs is in the works for an unspecified number of nuclear reactors.



According to Government sources, while feelers have also been received from ASEAN countries, Kazakhstan is likely to be the first breakthrough.

Reactor sales

The possibility of reactor sales to Kazakhstan is likely to figure in the broad-based civil nuclear agreement currently under discussion between Indian and the uranium-rich country.

The agreement, which is likely to be signed once the new Government takes office at the Centre, is also expected to address the possibility of joint cooperation in uranium mining, deliveries of Kazakh natural uranium for the Indian nuclear industry, and personnel training.

India has been proactively exploring the possibility of exporting indigenous PHWRs to developing nations that are eyeing nuclear power generation but are constrained by small-sized electricity grids. India had earlier moved a resolution to enable export of indigenous reactors at the IAEA General Conference of Member States in Vienna in late 2007.

potential

With the opening up of international civil nuclear cooperation, which has technically cleared the decks for India to enter the global nuclear trade, the potential for export of indigenous reactors and services is being viewed as a viable commercial proposition, an official said.

“Currently, India is perhaps the only country to have an actively working technology, design and infrastructure for manufacture of small reactors with a unit capacity of 220 MWe. These units have a great potential for exports, particularly to nations with small grids that are planning nuclear forays with relatively lower investment levels,” an official said.

Globally, the major developers of nuclear reactors in the EU and North America have moved on to larger reactor sizes of 700 MWe or 1,000 MWe and above. India stands out in having an active nuclear power programme using 220 MWe reactors, which is based on proven technology in a number of domestic atomic stations. In all, 12 such 220 MWe PHWR reactors are in operation currently while three more are under construction.

Officials said small size nuclear reactors are apt for countries that have small grids of around 10,000 MW. Use of large reactor units in case of countries having small grids could potentially lead to grid failures if even a single large unit shuts down at any point in time.

cost-effective

Besides, assembling clusters of 220 MWe reactors is projected to be more cost-effective than large-sized reactors from the US or Europe, officials said. Several Asean countries are reported to be eyeing the nuclear option, with Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand among those having announced plans to tap atomic energy in the future.

Nuclear Agreement

India and Kazakhstan are likely to sign a broad-based civil nuclear agreement , under which the uranium-rich central Asian country will supply fuel and technology to New Delhi.

India has sent a draft of the Inter Governmental Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy to Kazakhstan before the two sides ink the pact. Kazakhstan will be the fourth country after the USA, Russia and France with whom India will have such a broad-based civil nuclear agreement, since the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted ban on New Delhi last September to have trade in this field.

[Saint N sinnerr]

NEW DELHI: As Canberra continues to hold out on supplying uranium to New Delhi, India is actively engaging the African sub-continent to fuel its MoS for external affairs Shashi Tharoor welcomes Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba in New Delhicivilian nuclear programme.

Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba’s visit to India, which started on Sunday, is linked to India sourcing uranium from the African nation, which is the sixth largest producer of uranium in the world. Sources said that discussions on uranium mining and supplies have been ongoing with Namibia for some time now.

Ahead of Mr Pohamba’s visit, the Cabinet approved signing of an MoU on mining, which covers not just uranium but also other minerals like copper and diamonds. The MoU, which is likely to be signed after discussions between Mr Pohamba and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, will give India the opportunity to tap Namibia’s rich mining sector. This includes the chance to get exclusive prospecting rights and the possibility of joint ventures in the sector.

With countries like Australia still holding out against supplying uranium to India due to their non proliferation ideology, India is turning to other uranium rich countries to ensure supplies for the civilian nuclear programme that will grow in the coming years. Apart from Namibia, India is also in talks with Kazakhsthan and Canada and already has a pact with Niger.

The Manmohan Singh government by giving the Namibian president the first state visit of the second term of UPA is also sending out a strong message that Africa is important for India. The Namibian president’s visit to India is a part of New Delhi’s “new outreach to Africa.” If India is looking for uranium, the interest on the Namibian side is on defence co-operation.

It is understood that the two countries are also likely to sign a defence co-operation agreement, which will institutionalise and formalise defence co-operation between the two countries. India and Namibia have a long tradition of defence co-operation with the Indian Air Force teams stationed in Namibia since the mid-90s. India has also been training the Namibian Air Force and has supplied helicopters to Namibia. This April, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had got a $10-million order for supplying two Chetak and one Cheetah helicopters to the Namibian armed forces.

When contacted Namibia’s high commissioner to India Marten N Kapewasha said that he would not like to pre-empt the bilateral talks on Monday but did says that defence deals would be discussed apart from education and health and uranium.

The Namibian president will be accompanied by a 43 member delegation, which includes five ministers, senior officials and a business delegation.

[shchinese]

good luck for those poor Indian workers who are going to enjoy the radiation.

[bones20]

Originally Posted by shchinese

good luck for those poor Indian workers who are going to enjoy the radiation.

Thanks for sharing your concerns. You may further contribute by sending some Chinese helpers. we will pay more than the Chinese slave wages.

[shchinese]

Originally Posted by bones20

Thanks for sharing your concerns. You may further contribute by sending some Chinese helpers. we will pay more than the Chinese slave wages.

that is still higher than the Indian rate, am I right?

[sms]

^^ At least they will get better chance to survive ... working in Mines in China ????

Back to topic.. this is a good news we should tap more and more resources to ensure progress of our country and mean time helping other poor countries.

Looking forward top see some oil wells managed by India in Africa

[shchinese]

Originally Posted by sms

^^ At least they will get better chance to survive ... working in Mines in China ????

The life expectancy of China is almost 10 years higher than yours. talk about survive?

[Spitfighter]

Good news, India is actively engaging Southeast Asia and Africa. This is only a sign of things to come. We will expand our scope of our relations in the years to come.

Also guys, stop responding to the troll. period.

[SinoIndusFriendship]

Fellas, this is a GOOD thing.

It's nice for both Namibia and India, and provides employment/income for their peoples. Africa is HUGE, there's room for many countries to get involved - mutual benefits. Provides jobs for Indians and Uranium (fuel & weapons). Don't know of Namibians will be working there (probably), which is good for them.

India should try exporting cheap labour to work on setting up farms in Africa. That's what China is doing, provides food for the starving, and income for both parties. Plus, surplus food can be brought back home.

No need to be 'jealous', we should be HAPPY for our Indian friends. Issues are with borders only. Good to see India reaching out!

[dvk1982]

Originally Posted by SinoIndusFriendship

Fellas, this is a GOOD thing.


India should try exporting cheap labour to work on setting up farms in Africa. That's what China is doing, provides food for the starving, and income for both parties. Plus, surplus food can be brought back home.

since u brought up this point.. to let u guys know, Indians are already buying vast patches of agriculture land in Africa, unlike China ,where the govt directly is supporting or involved in these investments, most of the agro investments in Africa from India are through private sector players

"More than half of Indian FDI of $ 4.15 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) in Ethiopia at the end of 2008 was in agricultural and floricultural sectors, with investments coming from about 80 companies" just as an example...

[xebex]

Originally Posted by Saint N sinnerr

NEW DELHI: As Canberra continues to hold out on supplying uranium to New Delhi, India is actively engaging the African sub-continent to fuel its MoS for external affairs Shashi Tharoor welcomes Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba in New Delhicivilian nuclear programme.

when did Africa became a sub-continent?

[Nemesis]

Chinese mines are a death trap.

Anyway, i wouldnt greet this news with enthusiasm. Kind of sad when a nation has to outsource the mining of its resources to a foreign nation.

[nollvllad]

So indians are going to loot nimibia? NO

[GLOBAL HAWK]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Chinese mines are a death trap.

I kinda agree to above statement, we've seen lot of mishaps in the past year or two.