[Answered] Given the present global developments, should India continue with its nuclear energy expansion plan? Give reasons, in support of your argument.

Russia-Ukraine war have brought the issues associated with nuclear energy production to limelight, as many nuclear plants are within the attack zone. Fukushima disaster clearly depicted the threats linked to nuclear reactors.

However, the Indian government has signaled an expansion of nuclear energy plans.  it plans to build “10 indigenous reactors… in fleet mode” and had granted “in-principle approval” for 28 additional reactors. Thus, India must reconsider its nuclear energy expansion plans, given the available renewable energy alternatives.

Why India should not continue with its nuclear energy expansion plans? 

1. Nuclear power is not an economical source of electricity: nuclear power plants are capital intensive and recent nuclear builds have suffered major cost overruns. For example, V.C. Summer nuclear project in South Carolina (U.S.) was abandoned due to cost overrun, after an expenditure of over $9billion.
2. Renewable-energy technologies have become cheaper: The cost of for solar power, and solar-wind hybrid project was ₹2.14 per unit and ₹2.34 per unit respectively whereas power from the EPRs at Jaitapur was at least ₹ 15 per unit excluding transmission costs.
3. Nuclear Disaster: Nuclear fission reactions occurring in nuclear reactors are highly radioactive. Nuclear radiation can cause genetic defects, mutations and other physiological defects. Radiation leaks can occur due to technical failure (like Chernobyl, 1986) or natural disaster (like Fukushima, 2011).
4. Absence of liability of manufacturer: Furthermore, nuclear suppliers are indemnified of liability for the consequence of any accident in India, under Indian laws.
5. Pollution: The uranium used to produce nuclear energy requires mining. Uranium mining in particular is known for releasing arsenic and radon. Furthermore, Nuclear power plants cause ‘thermal pollution’ by releasing very hot water into lakes or oceans, by making it inhabitable to most aquatic life. Lastly, accumulation of hazardous nuclear waste is also a major pollutant once, there is no space left to store it.
6. Water requirement: nuclear energy production requires water more than what is required for coal processing.

Why India should continue with its expansion plans?

1. Energy efficiency: Quantities of nuclear fuel needed are considerably less than thermal power plants. For instance, 10000 MW generation by coal will need 30-35 million tons of coal, but nuclear fuel needed will be only 300-350 tons.
2. Resource Base: India has vast thorium reserves which could be exploited using a thermal breeder reactor. A significant amount of thorium reserves is found in the monazite sands of coastal regions of South India.
3. Energy Sovereignty: India’s energy mix is dominated by Coal and Oil. Low reserves of oil in India create import dependence. Increasing nuclear energy in the energy mix help India attain energy sovereignty.
4. Clean Fuel: The carbon emissions from a nuclear power plant are much lower than a traditional thermal power plants. Nuclear Energy has the potential to enable India to meet its Climate Goals.
5. Decrease in Energy Supply: Energy supply has been negatively affected by changing weather patterns. As water reservoirs decreases due to lower precipitation and increased evaporation, capacity for electricity production from hydropower and other water-intensive generation technologies may decline.

Before any further expansion of nuclear energy plans, other renewable energy alternatives must be exhausted. The safety and management of nuclear facilities should be duly augmented before its expansion.