COMRADE.PRAKASH KARAT
CPI(M) GENERAL SECRETARY
The setting up of mega nuclear power plants by importing
reactors, is running into serious opposition all over the country. The
UPA government had announced that it will install 40,000 MW of nuclear
power by 2020 and this would require importing nuclear reactors on a
large scale. This was done to justify the Indo-US nuclear deal. At that
time, the Manmohan Singh government gave a commitment in writing to the
US government that it would buy American nuclear reactors of 10,000 MW
capacity. This was a “sweetener” to get the deal.
The UPA
government has planned for setting up nuclear parks in Jaitapur
(Maharashtra), Chhaya Mithi Virdi in Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Kovvada in
Srikakulam district (Andhra Pradesh) and Kudankulam (Tamilnadu). These
nuclear parks with multiple imported plants being set up at the same
site should be opposed – on techno-economic and safety considerations.
After the nuclear deal the first agreement was signed with the French
company, Areva to build two 1650 MW reactors at Jaitapur. The plan is to
eventually set up six reactors. These type of reactors – European
Pressurised Reactors (EPR) are more expensive than other imported
reactors. They have not yet been commissioned in France or elsewhere in
the world. The government has not divulged the actual cost of the
reactors. But on the basis of the cost incurred for the EPR reactor in
Finland, it is estimated that six French nuclear reactors will cost over
Rs. 2 lakh crore. This untested technology bought at astronomical
prices will mean that the cost of electricity purchased will not be less
than Rs. 20 crore per MW, whereas the indigenous Pressurized Heavy
Water Reactor (PHWR) cost is Rs. 8 to 9 crore per MW. This means
electricity produced here would cost Rs. 7-8 per unit.
The
mega nuclear parks planned to be set up in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh
with US reactors would also be costly. The whole idea of importing
nuclear reactors on such a large scale is unviable and is part of a
flawed plan for energy security.
The CPI(M) is totally
opposed to the import of nuclear reactors for power generation as they
would be costly and unsustainable. When India has indigenously produced
the PHWR, it is totally unnecessary to go in for the Light Water
Reactors or the French EPR.
Further, in all the sites
selected for the mega nuclear parks there are serious issues of
displacement of people from their lands and their livelihood. After the
Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in March 2011, the question of the
safety of nuclear power plants has come to the fore. It has become
clear that setting up of six reactors at a single site as in Fukushima
is fraught with serious risks and hazards.
The CPI(M) is
opposed to the proposed nuclear parks being set up with multiple
imported nuclear reactors. In this context, questions are being asked
about the Party’s stand with regard to the Kudankulam nuclear power
plant. Why is it that the Party has not supported the demand for
shutting down the two nuclear reactors bought from Russia being
commissioned there? These two reactors which have been installed in
Kudankulam fall in a different category. These reactors were purchased
from Russia much before the Indo-US nuclear deal. Construction to set up
the two reactors have already been completed at a overall cost of Rs.
15,000 crore. It will not be practical nor in the country’s interests to
shut down these two units.
This stand of the CPI(M) is
criticized by some as adopting a different position to that taken
regarding the Jaitapur and other nuclear parks. This criticism has come
mainly from those who do not want civilian nuclear power and nuclear
power plants in India.
The main reason for the agitation
by the local people against the plant has been the fears for their
safety. This became pronounced after the Fukushima disaster. There are
genuine apprehensions among the people regarding the safety of a nuclear
plant in their area and their concerns should be taken seriously. The
CPI(M) had stated last year when the agitation began that till all the
safety measures are put in place and the apprehensions of the people
allayed, the plant should not be commissioned. The Party wanted an
independent safety review to be undertaken. However, the government and
the Department of Atomic Energy did not do so. They have not clarified
if all the safety measures recommended by the Atomic Energy Regulatory
Board have been put in place. Nor has it made public the Safety Analysis
Report.
The CPI(M) is still of the opinion that till
credible safety measures are introduced and the safety audit report made
public, the people’s concerns cannot be met. Instead of doing so, the
Central and state government have unleashed police repression on the
people protesting against the commissioning of the plant. The CPI(M)
condemns the repression against the protesters and the filing of cases
of sedition against a large number of them.
While the
CPI(M) does not call for the shutting down of the two reactors, the
Party is opposed to new units being added at Kudankulam. The government
is planning to put in four more reactors there. The argument against the
setting up of nuclear parks elsewhere applies to Kudankulam too.
The
issue of adequate compensation for the people affected in the event of a
nuclear accident is also a vital issue. Parliament adopted a civil
nuclear liability law rejecting the UPA government’s efforts to exempt
the foreign suppliers from liability. Rules are to be framed under this
Act. The government is trying to dilute even the limited liability
provisions in the Act.
Foreign suppliers of reactors do
not want the liability law to be applied to them. This is one more
reason not to import foreign reactors, since in the agreements signed
with the foreign companies the issue of compensation to be paid by them
is sought to be nullified. In the case of the new additional reactors in
Kudankulam, the Russian company is not willing to accept the liability
clause. Hence, this is an additional reason not to have more Russian
reactors in Kudankulam.
The CPI(M) is not
opposed to nuclear power per se, subject to safety requirements being
met and if the technoeconomics of nuclear power is favourable. India has
developed indigenous nuclear technology. There is no need to import
nuclear reactors. However, given the international experience with
nuclear power and especially the Fukushima accident, it is important to
ensure the safety of nuclear plants, review the safety measures in the
existing nuclear plants. There are genuine concerns about the safety
standards in the existing nuclear installations. There are serious
concerns about the Tarapur nuclear plant which was set up with two
General Electric reactors supplied by the US in the 1960s. These
reactors are even older than the G.E. reactors in Fukushima, and are
known to share the problems faced in the Fukushima reactors. We believe
that after Fukushima, these reactors should be shut down.
There
has to be an independent safety audit of the existing nuclear plants.
The Prime Minister had ordered a safety audit of the nuclear plants
after the Fukushima disaster. But this was done by the Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board and not by an independent body. There has to be an
independent and autonomous nuclear safety and regulatory agency. The
government has brought a Bill in parliament for this which does not
however serve the purpose.
Till a full-fledged review is
done of the safety measures in the existing plants, no new nuclear
plants should be set-up. There has to be more rigorous environmental
standards and safety measures put in place.
We cannot
accept the government’s energy plan which involves a big thrust for
nuclear power. India’s growing energy requirements will need continuing
emphasis on utilizing its massive coal reserves, more reliance on
natural gas and the development of new sources like solar energy.
The
Prime Minister’s delusion of a “nuclear renaissance” and the
government’s plan to dot the country with imported mega nuclear parks
must be resolutely opposed. The various movements of the people
developing against the imported nuclear plants should be made into a
national movement....
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