Bayyapu highlights nuke option

India is supporting the use of nuclear energy to meet the rising demand and has called for the use of advanced fission reactors, including fast reactors, that reduces radioactive waste.

“Nuclear power remains an important option to meet the challenges of increased energy demand, address concerns about climate change, redress volatile fossil fuel prices and ensure security of supply,” Sandeep Kumar Bayyapu, a first secretary in India’s UN Mission told the General Assembly on 10 Nov 2018.

He called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support efforts by countries to build public acceptance of nuclear energy and continue to help them start or expand nuclear energy programmes.

Nuclear energy plants are steady supply source of electricity unlike solar, wind and hydroelectric plants which depends on weather elements and water flow.

Addressing the debate on IAEA’s annual report, Bayyapu highlighted thorium-based technologies as solutions to other objections on nuclear plants

India plans to more than treble its nuclear electricity generation from the current 6,780 MWe to 22,480 MWe by 2031, according to the Department of Atomic Energy.

At the end of Sept 2018, India had 22 operable reactors with a combined capacity of 6.2 GWe and plans to build 10 plants, seven of which are under construction, said the World Nuclear Association Performance Report 2018. fiinews.com