indian- nuclear reactors and safety

Indian nuclear reactors safety

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India is consistently monitoring the situation at Japan’s nuclear sites in aftermath of unprecedented earthquake and Tsunami . Technical information in as the situation is evolving and clear picture will emerge progressively. A detailed review of the entire situation will be taken up by AERB as full information available.

In India out of 20 reactors under operation only two units namely Tarapur 1& 2 are boiling water reactor (BWR s) similar to one at Fakushima Japan. All reactors in India are designed to with standard the effect of earthquake and Tsunami of specific magnitude which are designed based on conservative criteria.

At part of periodic safety review process AERB had earlier carried out a detailed safety assessment of all old plants in India including Tarapur atomic power station 1 &2. Based on these assessments, several upgrades in safety measures such as provision of additional diesel generators for providing emergency power supply were made.

Emergency preparedness plans are existing for all nuclear power plants in the country with respect to plant ,site and off-site consequences. The emergency plans are periodically released to see that mitigation measures in the event of unlikely situation are in place.

AERB will be carrying out a comprehensive reassessment of safety and emergency mitigation measures of all Indian nuclear power plants in the light of unprecedented event in Japan.

Prime Minister Manmohn  Singh recently said on the occasion of conferment of Department of Atomic Energy’s life time achievement award 2009 ceremony that “ today India has demonstrated its capabilities in all scientific and technological aspects associated design development , construction, operation and maintenance of nuclear reactors and associated fuel cycles facilities. We  owe this success of  indigenous three -stage program whose foundation was laid by. Dr. Ho-mi Bhabha .


The decades of nuclear isolation under which our nuclear program evolved has fortunately ended, India is now an active participant international civil nuclear energy co-operation. This brought with it new  opportunities as well as new responsibilities. I have no doubt that opening of doors international co-operation will help us in our efforts to enhance our energy security.

For a large  fast growing economy like ours it is imperative that we tap all sources of energy and diverse  our energy mix. Nuclear energy has potential of playing an increasingly important role in giving our country energy independence from traditional  and often polluting sources of energy.

The tragedy of the Fakushima Daiichi power plant in Japan has raised  world wide  concerns about the safety of nuclear energy as a source of power. It is vitally important to address these concerns.

The people of India have to be convinced about safety and security of out nuclear power plants. We shall bring openness and transparency in decision making process relating to our nuclear energy program and improve our capacity to respond to public desire  to kept informed about decisions and issues that are concern to them. I would like to see accountability and transparency in functioning of our nuclear power plants.

The government will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our plants. I have already directed technical review  of all safety  systems of our nuclear power plants using best  expertise available in the country. The future reactors that will be built in India will have to certified by Indian regulating authority and meet its safety standards. This will apply equally to reactors and technologies that are important from abroad.

We will strengthen the Atomic Regulatory Board and make it fully autonomous  and independent regularity authority. We will ensure that it is of highest and best international standard. Prime Minster conclude.

In the wake of growing public demands for a review of nuclear reactor safety parliament standing committee on science and technology will meet next week to examine what India should do ensure its  own civil nuclear  energy is safe. Pointing out Prime  Minister  Manmohn Singh had assured parliament that a direction was given for detailed re-view of nuclear power plants, the Raj ya Shabha M.P. Jabir Husain wrote to the chair man of committee T. Subbirami  Reddy to convene a meeting at the earliest.

Mr. Hussian suggested that officials of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, and Department of Atomic Energy to be invited to details steps being taken as follow up to Prime Minister  directive.

Present Indian reactors safety.

. Scientists are  stating that  the recent development in Japan will not De- motivate India nuclear energy activities. They told that nuclear power plants are according to standards of safety. The chairman of Nuclear Power Corporation of India  told that nuclear power plants are conducting the activities with best available safety measures. 

.. The cooling system in Indian nuclear power plants is not dependent on supply of electricity, the indirect method cooling system in place.

-- The earthquake standards are  not enough at the time in Tarapur centre which founded, but it is improved and changed safety standards .

-- The nuclear power plants were built by considering like by predicting the   Tsunami height.

-- Kakrapar nuclear power plant centre efficiently managed the earth quake that is occurred in Bhuj  on 26th  January 2011. The Madras nuclear power plant closed without releasing any radiation that may lead to worst affects at time of Tsunami attack in year 2004 and re started normally in few days.

-- Two reactors of 1000 MW capacity that are constructing in nuclear power plant Kundankulam Tamilnadu are being built higher height that sea level to ensure no threat from Tsunami.

--Indian reactors will use  two level safety covering.

- All  reactors in Japan are fifth earth quake zone whereas as all reactors in India  are two, three ,four  earthquake zone earth quake severity is less in these zones.

-- It is not like the controlling system in other countries, in India license will be given for five years to nuclear power plants and later license will be given after doing safety test. 

In view of globally governments including in India taking enough steps and precautionary safety measures for safety of nuclear power plants it is advised that nuclear energy is safe and need  global  support as a energy mix in all countries to reduce global warming and improving and developing the  latest technology with  safety parameters in nuclear power reactors  in case of any earthquake of Tsunami.