Constraints for nuclear reactors India is facing following major problems for building nuclear reactors in India. .Nuke deal with Japan. .Negotiating with U.S. regarding nuke liability bill. .Source of nuclear fuel. .Environmental problems. .Financing of nuclear power projects. Japanese nuke deal Uncertainty in Indo- Japanese nuke nuclear deal is crucial for nuclear projects development in India. Two countries officials earlier met in Delhi without coming any conclusion on nuclear deal. Japan like to grill India about nuclear liability bill it would deter Japan nuclear suppliers. U.S. companies are already raising concern above provision in law that makers suppliers liable in the event of accident. A second clause in the law that leaves companies open to be prosecuted under Indian laws also giving them jitters about nuclear liability bill. Japan demanding there should clause in the agreement should have provision of cancellation of nuke deal if India tests another nuclear devise. India tried creating word in agreement which will address concerns of both sides. As both sides want agreement to be signed because India having long standing relations with Japan as envisaged by Tokyo and Delhi situation on bigger canvass. The indo - Japanese nuclear deal will give top Japanese nuclear companies Hitachi,Mitsubhisi, Toshiba and Marubeni a foot hold in Indian nuclear power sector for building nuclear reactors in India. At least three of these companies are tied up with GE , Areva and Westing House and all of them have been allotted nuclear parks in India. Regarding the liability bill the French president recently said in India they would like India to adopt rules and procedures that are constant with international practice in the nuke market as enshrined in Vienna convention. Recent French agreement with India for two reactors (7 billion Euros or RS 42 000 crores) dependent between India -Japan nuclear deal because Areva collaborates with Japanese Mitshubhusi since their reactor core is made by them. Even U.S. companies GE, Westing House are collaborates with Hitachi, Toshiba for building nuclear reactors in India. Unless India signs nuclear deal with Japan there is no progress anticipated about recent French nuclear deal with India. In addition French and India to finalize the price component at the earliest. So it is crucial for signing nuclear deal with Japan and India should also negotiate with U.S. regarding nuclear liability bill and settle deals with Japanese and American companies and start working for India’s nuclear power development. However some sources clarified that even if-indo-Japanese agreement delayed it will not effect on ventures accessing Japanese technology for Indian nuclear reactors. Fuel supply The uranium reserves in the country are adequate to support 1000 M.W. pressurized heavy water reactors. India has already been using imported enriched uranium and currently International atomic energy agency (IAEA) safe guards. As India - U.S. nuclear deal allows us to import uranium availability for nuclear projects in India. India has enrichment facility of uranium but we have not commercialized on large scale. “However difficulties in opening new mines have led to present demand mismatch .The opening new mines and mills resumption of international co-operation promises boost uranium availability . ’ according to Mr. Jain CMD of nuclear power corporation of India(NPCIL) . Financing of nuclear power projects NPCIL is aggressively negotiating with Indian companies and forming joint ventures for financing the nuclear reactor projects. This was discussed by me in my lost blog. As regards environmental NPCIL successfully negotiating Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh , Fatehabad in Haryana , Haripur in West Bengal and Jaitapur in Maharashtra offering attractive compensation and providing employment in nuclear power projects for acquiring land required for building nuclear power plant. NPCIL , CMD Mr. Jain promised there will not be any compromise for providing environmental protection to all power projects as per guidelines of environmental ministry.. Recently environmental ministry of India gave environmental clearance for building nuclear power project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra state and NPCIL has given assurance to protect environment in around nuclear power projects. Safety and environmental protection are especially important . However CMD of NPCIL Mr. Jain explains that NPCIL explains that NPCIL to meet all compliances laid down by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and other agencies. Comprehensive and systematic safety assessment by multi tier and multi-disciplinary reviews during each stage-design,construction,commissioning and operation - of nuclear projects are carried out. More importantly making tariff for nuclear power projects completion and compare with thermal projects is another challenge . Mr., Jain explains that tariff are influenced by many factor such as capital cost and construction period. The larger capacity plants should deliver power at lowest cost on account of economies of scale. We hope in phased manner India’s NPCIL should peruse all issues with effective co-ordination and get a favorable environment to reach ultimate goal generating 63000 M.W. of nuclear power by 2032.

Constraints for nuclear reactors

India is facing   following major  problems for building nuclear reactors in India.

.Nuke deal  with  Japan.
.Negotiating with U.S. regarding nuke liability bill.
.Source of nuclear fuel.
.Environmental problems.
.Financing of nuclear power projects.

 Japanese nuke deal

Uncertainty in Indo- Japanese nuke nuclear deal is crucial for nuclear projects development in India. Two countries officials earlier met in Delhi without  coming any conclusion on nuclear deal. Japan like to grill India about nuclear liability bill it would deter Japan nuclear suppliers. U.S. companies are already raising concern above provision in law that makers suppliers liable in the event of accident. A second clause in the law that leaves companies open to be prosecuted  under Indian laws also giving them jitters about nuclear liability bill.

Japan demanding there should   clause in the agreement should have provision of cancellation of nuke deal if India tests another nuclear devise. India tried creating word in agreement which will address concerns of both sides. As  both sides want agreement to be signed  because India having long standing relations with Japan as envisaged by Tokyo and Delhi situation on bigger canvass.    

The indo - Japanese nuclear deal will give top Japanese nuclear companies Hitachi,Mitsubhisi, Toshiba and Marubeni a foot hold in Indian nuclear power sector for building nuclear reactors in India. At least three of these companies are tied up with GE , Areva and Westing House and all of them have been allotted nuclear parks in India.

Regarding the liability bill the French president recently  said in India they would like India to adopt rules and procedures that are constant with international practice in the nuke market as enshrined in Vienna convention.

Recent French agreement with India for two reactors (7 billion Euros or  RS 42 000 crores) dependent between India -Japan nuclear deal because Areva collaborates with Japanese Mitshubhusi since their reactor core is made by them.

Even U.S. companies GE, Westing House are collaborates with Hitachi, Toshiba  for building nuclear reactors in India. Unless India signs nuclear deal with Japan there is no progress anticipated about recent French nuclear deal with India. In addition French and India to finalize the price component at the earliest.

So it is crucial for signing nuclear deal with Japan and India should also negotiate with U.S. regarding nuclear liability bill and settle deals with Japanese and   American companies and start working for India’s  nuclear power development.

However some sources clarified that  even  if-indo-Japanese  agreement delayed it will not  effect on ventures accessing Japanese  technology for Indian nuclear reactors.

Fuel supply

The uranium reserves in the country are adequate to support 1000 M.W. pressurized heavy water reactors.
 India has already been using imported enriched uranium and currently International atomic energy agency (IAEA) safe guards. As India - U.S. nuclear deal allows us to import uranium availability for nuclear projects in India. India has enrichment facility of uranium but we have not commercialized on large scale. 

“However difficulties in opening new mines have led to present demand mismatch .The opening new mines and mills  resumption of international co-operation promises boost uranium availability . ’ according to Mr. Jain  CMD of nuclear power corporation of India(NPCIL) .

Financing of nuclear power projects

NPCIL is aggressively negotiating with Indian companies and forming joint ventures for financing the nuclear  reactor projects. This was discussed by me  in my lost blog.

As regards environmental NPCIL successfully negotiating Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh , Fatehabad in Haryana , Haripur in West Bengal and Jaitapur in Maharashtra offering attractive compensation and providing employment  in nuclear power projects for acquiring land required for building nuclear power plant. NPCIL  , CMD Mr. Jain promised there will not be any compromise for providing environmental protection to all power projects as per guidelines of environmental ministry.. Recently environmental  ministry of India gave environmental clearance for building nuclear power project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra state  and NPCIL has given assurance to protect environment in around nuclear power projects.

 Safety and environmental protection are especially important . However  CMD of NPCIL Mr. Jain explains that NPCIL explains that NPCIL to meet all compliance's laid down by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and other agencies. Comprehensive and systematic safety assessment by multi tier and multi-disciplinary reviews during each stage-design,construction,commissioning and operation - of nuclear projects  are carried out.


More importantly making tariff for nuclear power projects completion and compare with thermal projects is another  challenge . Mr., Jain explains that tariff are influenced by many factor such as capital cost and  construction period. The larger capacity plants should deliver power at lowest cost on account of economies of scale.  

We hope in phased manner India’s NPCIL should peruse  all issues with effective co-ordination and get a  favorable environment to reach ultimate goal generating 63000 M.W. of nuclear power by 2032.