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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Ardesar
With the Parliamentary vote of confidence behind it, India still has two more obstacles to overcome, before it can achieve energy growth through nuclear power. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meet on August 1st, to be followed by approval from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). India is canvassing members of both organizations to assure approval is obtained. The NSG may be a harder sell than the IAEA, but India has demonstrated over the many years since it tested atomic weapons, that it is not in the business of proliferating nuclear weapons, and this should win the day. Then there is that minor detail about approval by the United States Congress. But is that really an issue? Once the IAEA and the NSG have approved the deal, India can enter into contracts for its future nuclear power with anyone. Russia and France are waiting in the wings. Needless to say, the huge demand for energy in India assures that there will be plenty of orders for nuclear reactors to go around, and after the US ratifies the agreement, they are sure to get a share.
The last year has been an agonizing period for the Indian Government, faced with the threat of collapse by its fragile alliance with the communist party. That party threatened to pull out of the alliance due to its fear of foreign (especially American) meddling in India’s affairs. But was this a case of being mis-guided? With reactors to be supplied by several countries, the American influence will be small. US private companies will be further hampered by damage liability, and may shy away. India can continue accumulating weapons grade fissile material through its research reactors, if it so desires. These are not subject to the inspection requirements of the civilian reactors. However, further testing of atomic weapons by India may put a halt to all the cooperation. But once you have the technology to make a bomb and have successfully demonstrated that capability, there is no need to build a bigger and better bomb. To give up future testing of atomic weapons for gaining future energy, should be a no-brainer. There is very little to be gained by the one, whereas billions of people will benefit by the other!
For India to continue its growth, the demand for power must be met. As with other countries in Asia, natural resources are in short supply, and India must import much of its energy resources. Nuclear energy offers an option for clean, competitively priced energy. While India may have the technology to build nuclear reactors, what is dearly needed is the supply of uranium fuel. This hurdle is about to be overcome, allowing for future growth and for raising the standard of living for Indians. In the near future, thorium as a fuel in nuclear reactors will be established, and with its abundant supply of thorium, India will become energy independent and may I dare say - a world power.

Ardesar is a nuclear engineer working at a utility in the New York area.