Nuclear Energy Cooperation between India and France, Japan, Russia

Nuclear Energy Cooperation between India and France, Japan, Russia

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is the nodal department in Government of India for all matters related to atomic energy. DAE has two PSUs, viz. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) under its administrative control, which have been entrusted with the responsibility of nuclear power generation. 

With the enactment of Atomic Energy (Amendment) Act, 2015, NPCIL and BHAVINI are in a position to form joint venture companies with other Indian PSUs to meet the additional funding requirements for expanding nuclear power programme and augmenting nuclear power generation capacity of India.

Two industrial units i.e. Nuclear Fuel Complex and Heavy Water Board functioning under the aegis of the Department of Atomic Energy cater to the fuel fabrication and Heavy Water requirements respectively for India's nuclear power programme.

Private sector in India participates in India's nuclear power programme as important source of supply of components and equipment and for works contracts.

On the R&D front, constituent Units of DAE viz. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Raja Rammana Centre for Atomic Research (RRCAT), Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) are engaged in basic as well as applied research in civil nuclear energy and affiliated sciences, to bring the benefits of nuclear energy for societal use as well as scientific development.

France :

During the visit of Prime Minister to France in April 2015, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the French nuclear power company AREVA NP signed a Pre-Engineering Agreement (PEA) for Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP-1&2) based on the Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor (EPR) technology. 

The PEA will facilitate NPCIL to obtain details of the EPR technology, make a detailed safety assessment of the plant and take up licensing process with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). During the same visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Indian company M/s L&T and M/s AREVA of France on 10.04.2015 for cooperation to maximize localization for the French -designed nuclear reactors in India in accord with Government's 'Make-in-India' initiative.

Russia :

 A Programme of Action for Localisation of Manufacturing in India for Russian-designed Nuclear Power Plants was signed between India and Russia on 24.12.2015 during the visit of Prime Minister of India to Moscow. 

The programme covers localisation in India for major equipment and spares as well as fuel assemblies for future Russian-designed reactors in India, in accord with Government's 'Make-in-India' initiative. Coinciding with the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister to Moscow, an Integrity Pact for the project for Kudankulam Units - 5&6 was signed between NPCIL and the Russian reactor supplier Atomstroy export.

Japan :

 Recent high-level engagements with Japan, including the visit of Prime Minister to Japan in August 2014 and the visit of Japanese Prime Minister to India in December 2015, have led to the negotiation on bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement being concluded in December 2015, bringing to a close five years of negotiations on this issue. 

The agreement will enable India to take advantage of Japan's advancements in the civil nuclear domain, and will make a direct contribution to India's civil nuclear programme.

India has signed Inter-Governmental Agreements with a number of international partners for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The scope of cooperation inter alia covers the supply of nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components or technology, training of personnel and transfer of technology, for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

- PTI

India's Nuclear programme to meet growing energy needs

India's Nuclear programme to meet growing energy needs

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that in times to come, India’s nuclear programme is going to play a crucial role to meet the growing energy needs of the country. 

Addressing a three-day International conference on “India’s role in Global Nuclear Governance”, organized by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) here today, he said that India’s nuclear programme today is moving shoulder to shoulder with all the developed nations of the world and while the concerns are the same as those of the rest of the world, the future challenges are also the same.

 India supports the concept of global nuclear governance as a part of it is also evolving to a level of higher understanding in this country, he added.

While India has set an example for the rest of the world about how to use this nuclear programme exclusively for peaceful and developmental purposes, Dr Jitendra Singh said we are eager to cooperate with the other Nation States and civil society to raise awareness on nuclear security issues. 

The role of civil society is particularly essential in this regard and there is need for enhancing mutual confidence among nations on higher nuclear security implementation, he added.

Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasized the urgent need to start a country wide awareness campaign to educate the public about enormous peaceful benefits of nuclear energy and to clear the air about the apprehensions which sometimes come in the way of setting up of new atomic and nuclear plants under the Department of Atomic Energy. 

To effectively carry forward an awareness campaign like this, the Department of Atomic Energy solicits the support and cooperation of like-minded scientific groups, social scientists and voluntary agencies who can carry forward the message to every section of society, he added. 

The safeguards observed in our nuclear plants are as per the rules, procedures and principles laid down by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) under the Department of Atomic Energy and are among the best practices in the world, he said.

In today’s age and times, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the peaceful and constructive application of nuclear energy is widening with each passing day and nuclear energy is not only proving to be a boon in fields like medical treatment and agriculture, but is also going to be a major source of energy to meet the ever increasing demand of energy and electricity in the country.

Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that over 60 years ago, Dr Homi Bhabha had started India’s nuclear programme primarily for peaceful purposes and today we have not only vindicated Dr Homi Bhabha’s dream, but also presented a glorious example for the rest of the world. Along with solar energy, nuclear energy is going to be one of the richest resources for India as it moves ahead to become the Asian giant of 21st century, he added.