The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC that took place in December 2015 in Paris has been historic in reaching a consensus on a critical issue that affects the globe as a whole. Even so the studies that assess temperature increases suggest that with the INDCs announced by parties, we will witness 2.7-3.7 degrees C (median chance) of warming compared with pre-industrial levels. This is an improvement over business-as-usual trends, which would lead to 4-5 degrees C of warming, but falls short of the goal to limit warming to below 2 degrees C. (Ref– World Resources Institute –Insider Nov., 9, 2015 Clearly much more needs to be done. While growth in electricity generation capacity to meet development needs of much of the world is unavoidable, shifting electricity generation to non-fossil energy resources on a war footing would be the only answer. Emphasis on renewable energy is only a partial answer since a minimum base load capacity is essential which is difficult to come by with renewable power sources. There is thus increasing awareness about possible important role of nuclear power in spite of a significant public opinion being against it.

Of the 444 operating nuclear power reactors in the world ((Ref. IAEA- PRIS as on May 2016), there are only 7 in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil and Mexico), 2 in Africa (South Africa), 1 in Asia- Middle East and South excluding India and Pakistan and none in far east excluding Japan, China, Republic of Korea and Taiwan. Post Fukushima, construction of some 30 new nuclear power reactors has started in eight countries. Only one country among them is a new entrant to the use of nuclear power. According to World Nuclear Association, as of February 2016, there were over 45 countries actively considering embarking on nuclear power program. While there are a large number of emerging economy countries with growing energy needs, their adopting nuclear power option to combat climate change risks would depend on their concerns related to nuclear power being addressed adequately

What could be the concerns of a country wishing to embark upon a nuclear power program? It is worth recalling at this stage that post Fukushima (since 12th March 2011), while 30 new reactor constructions have started, 31 power reactors were connected to the grid for the first time. These have happened despite concerns in public mind related to disasters in public domain and few countries like Germany deciding to phase out nuclear energy. Clearly such decisions would depend on relative cost benefits perceived by individual countries. Nuclear industry has learnt through experience including the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents and has continuously improved its track record with respect to safety. Cost competitiveness and issues related to spent fuel management could be other concerns. Countries would thus like to adopt a proven reactor system that can satisfactorily address these concerns.

The Thorium-Low Enriched Uranium (Th-LEU) fuelled 220 MWe Indian Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor offers a unique solution that is nearly ready for implementation in this regard. This is the smallest commercially competitive power reactor system with more than a dozen units in operation and proven track record of performance. More importantly, such a reactor fuelled with Th-LEU fuel brings in additional safety as well as economic strengths and proliferation resistance. For example one expects high fuel burn ups leading to much smaller spent fuel arising as a result of large contribution coming from in situ bred 233U, deep burning of plutonium generated in situ, very un favorable isotopic composition of elements in spent fuel making it much more proliferation resistant and relatively greater stability in spent fuel due to thorium matrix. Th-LEU fuelled PHWR thus offers a ready solution to address growing energy needs of emerging economy countries without causing any additional CO2 burden in earth’s atmosphere.

How do we make this option available to these countries and facilitate their embracing nuclear energy to meet their base load capacity needs through non-fossil energy. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is the custodian of this technology. NPCIL has rich experience in design, architect engineering, construction management and commissioning of nuclear power plants. They have comprehensive training infrastructure to train O&M personnel. Currently NPCIL is embarking on an ambitious and expanding domestic nuclear power programme. Opening an export wing would thus be a very marginal additionality with tremendous impact both for NPCIL/DAE as well as the country. Similarly items like heavy water, fuel manufacture, reactor internals, equipment manufacture etc. would be at best marginal additionality to existing capacities with Heavy Water Board, Nuclear Fuel Complex and Indian Industries respectively

The new elements in such a proposition are the design and development of fuel capable of high burn up (say 60,000 MWd/t average), reactivity control and safety elements capable of managing the core with new fuel design, refueling and core management and revisions to Safety Analysis Report arising out of modifications in fuel and reactor core configuration. Some aspects, particularly the high burn up fuel would also require irradiation testing in facilities abroad. While domestic capability in these areas does exist, embarking upon them could mean significant distraction to the comprehensive and high priority ongoing programme. These elements though relatively small in terms of the overall effort are critical and thus are best outsourced. Further, there would be significant effort in terms of international marketing of the reactor power plant, tying up LEU fuel supplies from international market, and transactional logistics for imports and exports related to the power plant and its supply chain.

Clearly then, there is a case for a partnership between DAE and a partner capable of managing efforts listed in the para above to realize the objective of making an urgent contribution to development aspirations of emerging economy countries and to that extent saving the world from global warming. In the process, this would also create an Indian foot print in international nuclear power market.

Modalities need to be discussed in detail.