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Vol. 2, Issue : 2

Friday, November 07,

Indo-US
Nuclear Strength respects strength
Deal

Advanced
Nuclear
Indo-US Nuclear Deal - Explored!
Research
in India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam answers to questions ! why now? he explains in detail.

nuclear energy and bio-fuel for the transportation

Thorium
Dear friends, I would like to answer to certain sector.
based Fast
Breeder
important questions from the youth and the common The hydel capacity generated through normal
reactor
citizens which I received by email, letter and also water sources and inter-linking of rivers is expected
during interactions for the benefit of understanding to contribute an additional 50,000 MW. Large scale
for the people, because the deal is through now solar energy farms of hundreds of megawatts capac-
without any hitch and got the approval of NSG, US ity in certain number could contribute around
Parliament and India 55,000 MW. The nuclear power plants should have a
has ratified target of 50,000 MW of power. Atleast 64,000 MW
with the of electrical power should come from wind energy.
agree- The balance 51,000 MW has to be generated
Editorial ment through the conventional thermal plants through
be- clean coal and gas and other renewable sources of
Dr. Kalam received
energy such as Biomass, Power through municipal
number of emails from the
waste and solar thermal power. The most significant
people and from large
aspect, however would be that the power generated
number of youth regarding
through renewable energy technolo-
the Indo-US nuclear deal.
gies has to be increased to 28%
Even though he has
against the present 5%
answered many questions
With these background let me
during interaction meetings,
answer to the questions
through media and also
from one of
through emails, it was felt
that large number of youth
are still repeatedly asking
questions to him through
email and it was continuing.
Hence, it was decided to
collate all the questions and
Special Issue on Indo-US Nuclear Deal
get a simple but detailed
answer from Dr. Kalam and
tween India and USA. My answers to many ques- the emails which I have received from Mr. Nitin Goel,
bring out a special issue
tions are based on my discussion with the experts in from Mumbai (<schokhi@vsnl.com>). I will also re-
through Billion beats e-paper,
the field and the actual data from Department of spond to other questions of the people from various
hence this special issue on
Atomic Energy. walks of the people who asked me starting from 10
Indo-US Nuclear deal. We
Before that let me give the background. India years old boy who sent an email.
have covered most of the
has 17% of the worlds population, but has only
questions and brought out Simple strokes by Shreyas Navare
about 0.8% of the worlds known oil and natural gas
this issue as a most
resources. Based on the progress visualized for the
comprehensive issue for the
nation during the next two decades, the power gen-
readers. We regret the delay
erating capacity has to increase to 400,000 MW by
in brining out the issues in
the year 2030 from the current 144,565 MW in
time, we assure you that we
India. This takes into consideration of energy econo-
will strive hard to bring the
mies planned and the design and production of
issues in time henceforth
energy efficient equipments and systems. Energy
regularly.
independence has got to be achieved through three Dr. Kalams Proximity to nature
By
V. Ponraj &
different sources namely renewable energy (solar,
Maj. Gen. R. Swaminathan wind apart from hydro power), electrical power from
 E-Paper
Why do you need energy from imported Uranium?
Question No.1
Background
When India would need 213 584 MWe
in 2015 at the present 9.4% growth
rate and when we have installed capac-
ity of 135,006 MWe already thus
requiring additional only 78,578 MWe
And when our 11th Plan has provided
50,000 MWe from coal, 10,000 MWe
from hydro, 16,000 MWe from gas and
7,500 MWe from alternative sources
total aggregating to 81,500 MWe,
Question
WHY DO WE NEED energy from im-
ported uranium?
US President George W.
Dr. Kalam: The present nuclear power
Bush (R) meets with capacity which is around 3900 MW is
Indian Prime Minister
expected to go to 7160 MW by 2012
Manmohan Singh in the
Oval Office of the White with the completion of nine reactors
House on September which are now in progress. Eventually
25, 2008 in Washing- as per present plan of BARC and Nu-
ton, DC. Bush told clear Power Corporation the capacity by
Singh he was "working 2020 is expected to be increased to
hard" to push their
24,000 MW (By the end of 12th Plan
stalled civilian nuclear
pact through the US
Why to sign the agreement in hurry?
Question No.2
Background
When Dr. Vikram Sarabhai predicted
in1974 nuclear energy 43,500 MWe
by 2000?
When Dr. Raja Ramanna predicted in
1984 nuclear energy 10,000 MWe by
2000?
When DAE projected in 2003 nuclear
energy 20,000 MWe by 2020?
When all these years (since Pokharan -
I) India was faced with nuclear sanc-
tion?
Question
DID OUR SCIENTISTS made such prom-
ises on IMPORTED URANIUM?
Certainly NOT!
It was based on India's own Uranium?
WHY then this hurry to sign the Agree-
ment?
Dr. Kalam: Ans: Currently, the known
Indian nuclear energy resources com-
prise only 61,000 tonnes of uranium
Advanced Heavy Water which can give 10000 MWe till its
Reactor (AHWR) - to
lifetime and we have more than
derive two-
two-third of its
power from thorium 2,25,000 tonnes of thorium, which is
and one third from
the second largest resource in the
plutonium generated
from Fast Breeder Re- world next to Australia. With the exist-
actor (FBR). Implemen-
ing uranium in stock and available
tation of AHWR project
uranium certainly we can achieve the
and development of
associated fuel cycle target set by the DAE. But the question
facilities will provide
is? Is it wise to exhaust our own ura-
industrial scale experi-
ence in the handling of nium resources now? What will happen
thorium.
when we need uranium, at the time of
November 7, 2008
overall nuclear power 18160MW)
There is a plan to increase this capacity
to 50,000 MW by 2030 through ura-
nium and thorium route for which
ground work has already been done by
the scientists
of Depart-
ment of We need uranium, when
Atomic En- our thorium
ergy. becoming critical by 2025. After
Nuclear
2030, we may not require any
power gen-
imported uranium; we can be
eration has
self-
self-sufficient with our internal
been given a
thrust by the nuclear resources.
use of ura-
nium based
fuel. However to meet the increased
needs of nuclear power generation, it is
essential to pursue the development of
nuclear power using Thorium, reserves
of which are higher in the country.
making the thorium based power plant
critical after the extensive R&D within
next 7 years time.
Certainly, an aggressive effort for
further exploration of uranium is being
pursued. Natural uranium contains only
0.7% of 235U, the only fissionable mate-
rial available in nature. In principle,
however, the entire quantity of uranium
(235U and 238U) and thorium available in
nature can be converted to fissionable
form that can be used for contributing
to energy security of the mankind for a
few millenniums.
With the above-mentioned per-
spective, the Indian nuclear power
programme is based on closed nuclear
The known Indian nuclear
energy resources comprise only
61,000 tonnes of uranium which
can give 10000 MWe till its
lifetime and we have more than
2,25,000 tonnes of thorium,
which is the second largest
fuel cycle, in
which the spent fuel of the first stage
billionbeats 2
Technology development has to be
accelerated for Thorium based reac-
tors. Thorium is a non fissile material; it
has to be converted into a fissile mate-
rial through fast breeder reactor. For
conversion of Thorium
and maximizing its
utilization develop-
reactors are ment of Fast Breeder
Reactor has been
rightly taken up. But
till then we cannot
afford to exhaust our
own nuclear resources
that is uranium. We
need uranium, when
our thorium reactors
are becoming critical by 20252030.
After 2030 , we may not require any
imported uranium; we can be self-
sufficient with our internal nuclear
resources.
PHWRs is reprocessed to obtain fis-
sionable plutonium. The choice of
PHWRs in the first stage is driven by
the fact that in PHWRs, on account of
the use of heavy water as moderator
and on-power refueling, more neutrons
are available to convert 238U to Pu than
in the case of Light Water Reactors
(LWRs). In other words, for the same
amount of mined uranium, power
produced as well as plutonium gener-
ated is higher for PHWRs than in the
case of LWRs, where the light water
moderator absorbs more neutrons and
batch-mode refueling necessitates
placing burnable neutron absorbers in
the core along with fresh fuel.
The highest breeding ratio in the
FBR is achieved with plutonium-
uranium based metallic fuel in the core
and uranium in the blanket. Introduc-
tion of thorium in the blanket of a
plutonium-uranium fueled FBR slightly
increases the doubling time that has
an adverse impact on the rate of
growth of the installed FBR capacity in
the initial part of the second stage.
Hence, in the second stage, the intro-
duction of thorium has to be done in a
timely manner, starting with the use of
 WWW.ABDULKALAM.COM billionbeats 3

uranium in the blanket and much later with plutonium- Why we have not reached 10,000 Chronology of the
uranium based metallic fuel used in the core. DAE
MWe till now? Indo-US Nuclear Deal
research studies indicate that, it would be most appro-
priate to introduce thorium in this manner, in the third Question No.3 July 18, 2005: President
decade after the launch of metallic fuel based FBRs. Background Bush and Prime Minister
When India's uranium resources are estimated at as 60,000
Hence, the introduction of thorium without going to 90,000 t. Indias milling capacity is estimated at about Singh first announce their
FBRs is extremely counterproductive, since the installed 1000 t/year which is sufficient for 50- 50-90 years for intention to enter into a
10,000MWe energy production per year and this has been
power capacity with thorium and plutonium being used confirmed in public statements jointly by Chairman & Manag- nuclear agreement in
together in thermal reactors will be unable to rise be- ing Director NPCIL, Director BARC and Director IGCAR; Washington.
Question
yond a rather insignificant value, considering the total (a) WHY ARE we begging for uranium? And;
Indian requirement. (b) WHY have we not reached 10,000 MWe till date? March 1, 2006: Bush
visits India for the first
Dr. Kalam: As I have already mentioned, the known Indian
Thorium is an immense source of energy. The time.
nuclear energy resources is only 61,000 tonnes of uranium
Indian resources of thorium are easily one of the largest
which can give 10000 MWe only. It is not for every year. It is
and of the best quality available in the world. Studies
the total potential available in India. Presently, our nuclear
March 3, 2006: Bush and
indicate that once the FBR capacity reaches about 200
reactors are running at 50-55% load factor only. At present
Singh issue a joint
GWe, thorium-based fuel can be introduced progres-
India imports about 30% of its primary energy needs. Stud-
statement on their growing
sively in the FBRs to initiate the third stage, where the
ies done indicate that even if India exploits full potential of all
strategic partnership,
233U bred in these reactors is to be used in the thorium emphasizing their
energy resources there will be a need to continue imports at
based reactors. DAE is also envisaging use of Accelera- agreement on civil nuclear
the present level even after 5 decades. It is therefore neces-
tor Driven Sub-critical Systems (ADS) for facilitating an cooperation.
sary for us to look for options which can reduce import de-
early introduction of thorium.
pendence. I have answered to this question of requirement
of uranium in detail in the second question itself.
July 26, 2006: The US
House of Representatives
passes the 'Henry J Hyde
Why Hyde act is not important to us? United States-India
Peaceful Atomic Energy
Question No.4 them. Obviously whatever is not permitted by US laws, will Cooperation Act of 2006,'
Background
not be signed by US firms. It, however, does not impose any which stipulates that
Under Article 2.1 of the 123 Agreement with India constraint on India with regard to signing any contract with
Washington will cooperate
states
firms in other countries. Thus once international civil nuclear
with New Delhi on nuclear
"Each Party shall implement this Agreement in accor-
dance with its respective applicable treaties, national trade opens up, India can sign contract with several coun-
issues and exempt it from
laws, regulations and license requirements concerning signing the Nuclear
the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." tries. The laws and regulations of the USA will not come in
123 Agreement with China states
Nonproliferation Treaty.
the way. To sum up, Hyde Act enables the US to have nu-

"The parties recognize, with respect to the observance clear trade with India, and as a follow up the US has to lobby
of this agreement, the principle of international law that with NSG to modify its guidelines to enable civil nuclear trade
July 28, 2006: In India,
provides that a party may not invoke the provisions of
with India. Constraints imposed by Hyde Act are applicable
the Left parties demand
its internal law as justification for its failure to perform a
treaty." to US firms only.
threadbare discussion on
the issue in Parliament.
This would mean The Hyde Act 2006 can be used
Question No.5
against India at any time but it is not so in case of
Background
China.
When India has already signatory to international Treaties on November 16, 2006: The
Question
biological, chemical and conventional weapons; US Senate passes the
Question
WHY the 123-
123-Agreement should doubly bind India by comply-
'United States-India
WHY OUR LEADERS keep telling that The Hyde Act is ing with Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement under Peaceful Atomic Energy
not important to us? The Hyde Act 2006.
Cooperation and US
Dr. Kalam: India has negotiated a draft of agreement of Answer: There is no clause in the agreed 123 draft with Additional Protocol
cooperation with the US. India will be signing only the regard to binding India to Australia Group and Wassenaar Implementation Act' to
agreement for cooperation and will commit itself to the Arrangement. "exempt from certain
terms as included in the text of the Agreement. India requirements of the
has to ensure that the text of the agreement is in accor- Question No.6 Atomic Energy Act of
dance with the national laws and regulations in India Background
1954 United States exports
while the US would do the same with respect to its laws When India is a sovereign State: of nuclear materials,
and regulations. Please note that 123 agreement is a
equipment, and technology
Question
framework agreement and not an implementing con-
to India."
WHY the US President is required to submit to the Congres-
tract. Whenever implementing agreements or contracts sional committees a report
are signed between Indian entities and US energy firms,
(a) Whether India is fully and actively participating in the US
Indian and the US firms have to ensure that they are in and international efforts to dissuade, isolate and if
accordance with laws and regulations as applicable to necessary, sanction and contain Iran for its efforts to
acquire weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear
 E-Paper
Where is the assurance for Fuel supply?
(Continued from page 3)
weapons capability
(b) AND a description of the specific measures that India
has taken in this regard and if not so assessed what
measures US Government has taken to secure In-
dias full and active participation in such efforts.
(c ) DOES it mean Iraq like measures?
Dr. Kalam meets the Answer: It is not our concern as to what the US President
Nuclear Experts during
is required to submit to the Congressional Committees. It
the DAE Award ceremony
is between the US President and the US Congress to
at National Technology
Day & Function for Distri- determine as to what they should do.
ution of DAE Awards. 11
May 2008, BARC, Mumbai Question No.7
Background
When
The Hyde Act 2006 under Section 102 (13) states:-
states:-
"---- the United States should not seek to facilitate or
encourage the continuation of nuclear exports to India by
any other party if such exports are terminated under the
US law." And When The Hyde Act under Section 103 (b)
(10) states:
states: "Any nuclear power reactor fuel reserve pro-
vided to the Government of India for use in safe-
safe-guarded
civilian nuclear facilities should be commensurate with
Hydrogen BUS reasonable operating requirements." And When The Joint
Explanatory Statement of The Committee of Conference
describing the Background and Need for the Legislation
(page 12) states:-
states:-
".... US Officials testified, however, that the US does not
intend to help build a stockpile of nuclear fuel for the
purpose of riding out any sanctions that might be im-
posed in response to Indian actions such as conducting
another nuclear test. ---- . They endorse the Senate pro-
posal, however, that there be a clear US policy that any
fuel reserve provided to India should be commensurate
with normal operating requirements for India's safe-
guarded reactors".
Question
WHERE is the assurance for fuel supply?
Dr. Kalam: As a background to this question, you have
quoted from Hyde Act and the Joint Explanatory Statement
of the Committee of Conference. India has not signed any
of these documents and therefore whatever is written in
those documents is internal to the US. India will be sign-
ing the agreed text of the 123 Agreement and subse-
quently Indian entities will sign implementing contracts
with US energy firms provided they come to an agreement
on techno-economic terms and conditions. Indian entities
will also enter into implementing contracts with compa-
nies in other interested countries.
ADS - Accelerator
Driven System India will undertake obligations with regard to
safeguards only when India is satisfied that
An important basic
contracts with regard to fuel supplies are in place.
research area is to
develop reactor
systems based on Fuel supply assurances have to be embedded into these
thorium wherein implementing contracts. While negotiating Safeguards
power derived from
Agreement with the IAEA Secretariat, it has been ensured
thorium can be
increased and ex- that India will move forward with implementation of safe-
ternal input of fis- guards on indigenous reactors only when all conditions
sile material can be
conducive to the implementation of the safeguards agree-
minimized
ment are in place. India will undertake obligations with
regard to safeguards only when India is satisfied that
contracts with regard to fuel supplies are in place.
November 7, 2008
billionbeats 4
Question No.8
Background
Article 5.6(c) of the Agreement provides as follows:
".... Taking this into account, India will place its civilian
nuclear facilities under India-
India-specific safeguards in
perpetuity and negotiate an appropriate safeguards
agreement to this end with the IAEA."
Question
WHY should India's nuclear installations remain under
IAEA safeguards in PERPETUITY once the 123- 123-
Agreement is terminated by either party?
Answer: The Safeguards Agreement negotiated with the
IAEA Secretariat ensures that PERPETUITY with regard to
safeguards is linked to PERPETUITY with regard to fuel
supplies.
Question No.9
Background
The Hyde Act under Section 104(d)(5)(B)(iii) provides:
In the event the IAEA is unable to implement safe-
guards as required by an agreement for cooperation
arranged pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy
Act of 1954 (42USC 2153), appropriate assurance that
arrangements will be put in place expeditiously that are
consistent with the requirements of section 123a.(1) of
such Act (42USC 2153(a)(1) regarding the maintenance
of safeguards as set forth in the agreement regardless
of whether the agreement is terminated or suspended
for any reason.
It is easy for the US to disable the IAEA financially or
even otherwise.
Question
DOES it mean that US Atomic Energy Act 1954 will
prevail when IAEA is not able to implement the safe-
guards?
Answer: Article 10.4 of the agreed draft of the 123
Agreement is relevant in this regard and is reproduced
below:
If the IAEA decides that the application of
IAEA safeguards is no longer possible, the
supplier and recipient should consult and agree
on appropriate verification measures.
.
You may note that it is not the same as quoted by you in
the background to this question.
Question No.10
Background
Article 10 of the agreement provides that on termination
of the 123-
123-Agreement either Party shall have the right to
require the return by the other Party of any nuclear
material, equipment etc. transferred under the Agree-
ment. It is also provided that all legal obligations per-
taining to the Agreement shall cease except that those
relating to the Safeguards and other related issues shall
apply with respect to any nuclear items still remaining
on the territory of the Party concerned.
It is further provided that either Party exercising the
right of return shall compensate, prior to removal of
items, promptly that Party for the fair market value
thereof and for the costs of such removals.
Question
(a) WHAT is the relative cost of such buildings and
infrastructure with the Uranium Fuel?
(b) WHAT does DAE intend to do with the empty
nuclear buildings once the fuel is taken away?
Answer: The Article 14.6 of the agreed text of the draft
123 Agreement is relevant to this question and it says:
If either Party exercises its right of return pursuant
to paragraph 4 of this Article, it shall, prior to the
removal from the territory or from the control of the
 WWW.ABDULKALAM.COM billionbeats 5

Chronology of the
other Party, compensate promptly that Party for the fair market value thereof and for the costs incurred as a conse-
quence of such removal. If the return of nuclear items is required, the Parties shall agree on methods and arrange-
Indo-US Nuclear Deal
ments for the return of the items, the relevant quantity of the items to be returned, and the amount of compensation
that would have to be paid by the Party exercising the right to the other Party
December 18, 2006:
As you notice from the above article, consequence of removal of items would entail financial loss resulting from non- President Bush signs into
availability of electricity from such reactors. The party asking for return of items will have to compensate for such losses. This law congressional
is likely to be a huge amount and therefore could make such a demand prohibitively expensive for the party asking for return legislation on Indian
of nuclear material. atomic energy.

Dear friends, with this question in detail, there are number of other questions also which I have received number
July 27, 2007:
of emails expressing their interest to find answers to many questions.
Negotiations on a bilateral
agreement between the
There are lot of questions that nuclear energy at present gives only 3% of the total power generation in India and
United States and India
also is it worth spending huge amount to get the nuclear power by importing uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group coun-
conclude.
tries by accepting the Indo-US Nuclear agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreeing to the Safeguards agreement with
IAEA. Is it essential? Is it required or not? Why not we live with whatever we have? Will it not compromise the sovereignty and
Aug 3, 2007: The text of
security of the nation? Will it not deter our right to do the nuclear test? Will it not compromise Indias foreign policy in favor of
the 'Agreement for
USA? Why the IAEA Safeguards agreement doesnt allow the un-interrupted nuclear fuel supply and makes the safeguards in
Cooperation between the
perpetuity? In the event of breach of Indo-US nuclear agreement in order to protect the security of the nation and maintain
Government of the United
the integrity of the nation, the US will put sanction and NSG will withdraw the nuclear fuel, will it not waste of investment and
States of America and the
ultimately all the nuclear fuel will get emptied? The corrective measure included in the preamble of safeguards agreement is
Government of India
not tenable in view of the specific provisions of the Withdrawals and termination clauses govern the actual withdrawal or
concerning peaceful uses
termination? How to find an answer to these genuine questions?
of nuclear energy' (123
Agreement) is released by
Before let me attempt to answer the questions., let us look at the three state Indian Nuclear Power Programme as per the
both governments.
DAE sources (Ref Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Atomic Energy Commission lecture at Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore on 4th July
2008).