Nuclear Energy

India has utilized nuclear energy for peaceful, civilian & strategic purposes. India has the sixth-highest number of functional nuclear reactors in the world and the second-highest number of reactors with installed capacity (including those under construction) of 7840 MW. Nuclear power currently comprises around 2% of India's total electricity generation. The Integrated Energy Policy of India aims for nuclear power to be 4-6% in the total primary energy mix by the year 2032. India’s nuclear programme began in 1950, initially with the assistance of other countries and soon India also developed indigenous technology for power production. India faced nuclear embargo when it developed a Nuclear Bomb in 1998, however these restrictions were eased by 2008 as India demonstrated its intent to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes. Since then India has international tieups for nuclear energy with over 18 countries and is rapidly scaling up nuclear capabilities keeping in mind safety and other guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency, of which India is a founding member.

India’s nuclear programme began in 1950s with the aim of energy security when the ‘Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme’ was formulated by Homi Bhabha. Then in 1962 to promote use of Uranium and Thorium as fuel the Atomic Energy Act was passed.

While the peaceful use of nuclear energy was supported internationally, however India was banned from developing nuclear strategic and military capabilities. Despite international pressures, India did not sign the discriminatory Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This led to backlash and limited India’s access to nuclear materials from the world. Finally in 2008, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) granted a waiver to India, allowing it to engage in nuclear commerce for civilian purposes.

India entered the nuclear age in August 1956 when it built Apsara nuclear reactor and operated it with USA supplied fuel. It then built CIRUS reactor with Canada’s help in 1960s for research which led to innovations in medical diagnostics and industrial applications. The first energy producing nuclear power plant was setup in Tarapur by USA. The second energy producing plant cameup in Rajasthan with the help of Russia. India’s first indigenously developed nuclear energy generating station is Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) in 1983. In the next twenty years, India commissioned 12 nuclear power plants with Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor technology.

Evisioned by Homi Bhabha, targets a ‘closed nuclear fuel cycle’ which would multiply fissile material at every stage. The Programme envisions three types of nuclear reactors

• Stage I: Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor [PHWR] use natural uranium to produce electricity and plutonium-239 as a byproduct. Heavy Water (deuterium oxide) is used as a coolant.
• Stage II: Fast Breeder Reactor [FBR] use the by-product plutonium-239 from last stage to produce electricity. Additionally more natural uranium is converted to p-239 hence breeding more fuel for the reactor.
• Stage III: Thorium Based Reactor [TBR] uses thorium to produce uranium which can be used as fuel for other reactors at Stage I. Hence it is a self-sustaining cycle.

Thorium has many advantages over Uranium as a raw material for nuclear power plants however as per the current technology Thorium is used at a later stage only and uranium is needed to being the electricity generation process. Hence there is research being undertaken to utilise thorium right in beginning.

• Abundant Thorium: It is four times more abundant in nature than uranium and is widely distributed throughout the Earth’s crust. It is considered the ‘fuel of the future’. Thorium is found in Monazite sand, with India hosting 25% of the World’s reserves.
• Reduced Import Dependence: Thorium availability makes nuclear energy a promising solution for India's energy needs. India currently imports uranium from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Canada.
• Safe Thorium: Thorium fuel waste consists of the radioisotope Uranium-233, or U233, which is virtually impossible to weaponize. It leaves limited radioactive debris. It is more chemcially stable and resistant to radioactivity than uranium.
• Efficient Thorium: Thorium fuel will generate more energy per unit of mass than uranium fuel by a factor of approximately 30.

• Clean and environment-friendly decarbonizing India helping reach its goals under the Paris Agreement and SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy).
• Cheaper to Operate: Nuclear power plants cost only 33-50% of a coal plant and 20-25% of a gas combined-cycle plant.
• Firm Dispatchable Power: Unlike solar/ wind renewable energy, it is not dependent on the climate/ weather.
• Reduce import bill of coal & petroleum by cutting spending upto $100 billion.
• Global Influence: A strong civil nuclear sector is essential in global arena to influence the peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
• Other applications of nuclear energy: such as space exploration, desalination plants, nuclear radiation use in cancer treatment, etc.

• Safety concerns: Since nuclear elements are radioactive, their disposal and use has to be done with adequate safeguards as they cause radiation which can be harmful. Public is also fearful of radiation and opposes setup of new plants in their areas.
• Land acquisition and selection of location for Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is also major problem in the country. NPP’s like Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu have met with several delays due to the land acquisition related challenges.
• Fissile Material Access: Thorium, though abundant cannot be directly used while Uranium has to be imported as there is only limited supply in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

• Partnership with Private Sector: Amendment of the Atomic Energy Act to setup Joint Venture nuclear power projects by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
• Indo-Russian ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’: Signed in 2018 to setup 6 nuclear power plants in India with Russian technology and also setup plants in other countries the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project in Bangladesh.
• Fuel Supply Enhanced: By increasing domestic mining and also tieups with other countries including France, USA (2006), Russia, Namibia, Canada, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Czech Republic, Australia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Mongolia and Japan (2015)
• Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool: to comply with Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act.
• Expanding Thorium Use
  • Bhabha Atomic Research Centre: R&D activities to address the utilisation of thorium in different types of reactors
  • Bhavni Nuclear Plant: The world's first thorium-based nuclear plant, set up at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. It is entirely indigenous.
• PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation) platform: for monitoring nuclear plants

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 1957: It is a UN oranisation setup to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. It sets down guidelines for nuclear use. India is a founding member.
  • Additional Protocol: Introduced in India in 2014 allowed IAEA to inspect civil nuclear reactors of India for safety compliance.
  • IAEA Safeguards: Apply to all nuclear power plants using imported fuel.
  • International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), 2016: Experts working for arms-control and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. They research on practical policy which can help reduce nuclear weapons and make sure that fissile material doesn’t fall in hands of terrorists.
• Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), 1970: It is an international treaty, which bans nuclear weapons technology for all countries which are not Nuclear Weapons States (NWS). NWS are USA, UK, China, France & Russia. India deemed this discriminatory and never signed it.
• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), 1975: A group of 48 nuclear supplier countries regulate export of nuclear material and technology for peaceful purpose so that it is not used to create weapons. While India is not a member, it is allowed to do nuclear trade with member countries since 2008 onwards.
• ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’ (ITER), 2007: World’s largest nuclear fusion reactor research project in France funded by 7 parties: USA, Japan, China, Russia, India, EU, South Korea.
• Nuclear Security Summit, 2010: forum to discuss nuclear security.
• New START, 2010: Agreement between USA & Russia to reduce nuclear weapons in their arsenal which they stockpiled during the Cold War era.

Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in India's pursuit of energy security, decarbonization, and sustainable development. With the sixth-highest number of functional nuclear reactors globally and strategic partnerships with over 18 countries, India has made significant strides in harnessing nuclear power for civilian purposes.

To achieve the goal of incorporating nuclear power into 4-6% of the total primary energy mix by 2032, India must address challenges such as safety concerns, public opposition, and the limited supply of fissile materials like uranium.

India's emphasis on research, technology, and international collaborations, as seen in projects like ITER, positions it at the forefront of nuclear innovation. The abundant availability of thorium, considered the fuel of the future, further strengthens India's potential to become a significant player in the global nuclear arena.