The chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Anil Kakodkar, on Friday said there could be no compromise on the country’s strategic nuclear programme. Kakodkar was speaking at the 54th convocation of IIT Kharagpur.
“Nuclear energy, with its several million-fold higher calorific value and negligible greenhouse gas emissions, has the potential to bring about a paradigm change for the better. It goes without saying that there can be no compromise on India’s strategic programme,” he said.
Kakodkar, who is also secretary to the department of atomic energy, said the country needed some additional uranium to start with.
He said India had been self-reliant in its capabilities to pursue an autonomous path that was best suited for the country, but for the embargo which currently exists.
Kakodkar said India would pursue a three-stage domestic development programme that could lead to the unleashing of vast energy potential present in the country’s thorium resources.
He said it would be interesting to see nuclear power plants, which were generating electricity, also produce nuclear fuel, while fast breeder reactors produced more fuel than they consumed. He said this would help India increase generation of electricity without the need for additional external fuel.
The scientist said the demand-supply gap in energy would widen over the next few decades.
IIT Kharagpur conferred degrees on successful students and scholars in various technical and engineering fields.
Kakodkar was awarded the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) for his contribution to nuclear research.
On IITs, he stressed augmentation of faculty strength at the earliest, without compromising on standards.
Kakodkar talked about the possibility of synergy of educational research and innovation and development of technology.