Why Nuclear Power ??

India has an unenviable statistic with regard to power availability. About 40% of India’s population does not have access to electricity! If this is not shocking enough, the rest, who get electricity, face shortages round the year. Also, industries in the country suffer economic losses as a result of chronic shortage of electrical power. 

 India has limited conventional energy resources and a vast population of 1200 million (in 2012). We are mainly dependent on coal (thermal power) and water dams (hydroelectricity) for power generation. However, we are already facing shortages of coal in India, and also coal produces CO₂ (carbon dioxide), which is a major man-made cause of global warming and climate change. Thus, in fact, we must actually ‘reduce’ the use of coal for power generation. Talking of water dams, the large hydroelectric generation potential in the country has been practically exhausted. Small hydroelectricity projects (i.e. small dams) can provide some local relief, but cannot make large contribution to the nation’s huge and growing demand for electricity. Alternative sources like solar, wind etc. can only play a small supplementary role, but they are neither cost-effective nor suitable for large-scale use because of their several inherent limitations. 

This leaves us with the reliable option of nuclear, which is a perfect choice for today and tomorrow – as it is economical, safe, environmentally benign and pollution-free. Nuclear power today has a small share in the energy mix of India, but there are plans for its rapid expansion in the coming years. Indeed, with our large reserves of thorium, nuclear is the sure source capable of providing vast amounts of power for centuries without depending on costly energy imports and without damaging the environment.