Indian Future nuclear power reactors could come up near populated areas as scientists develop newer and safer technologies to generate clean energy, said an Indian top atomic research official on Friday.
"We may be able to reduce the exclusion zone around the reactor. Now it is 1.6 km radius from the reactor. But it (the proposed reduction) has to be approved by the Regulatory Board," said Srikumar Banerjee, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) said on the sidelines of the Convocation Ceremony of Indian Agriculture Research Institute on Friday.
The pre-licensing review of the technology demonstrator of the much-awaited Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) has been completed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and BARC is making a case for reducing the exclusion zone for the reactor.
A relaxation in the exclusion zone will enable the reactor to be placed in populated places, but not now, Banerjee said.
He dismissed suggestions that the project has been delayed as it has gone back to the design board.
"Design is more or less frozen," Banerjee said. The civil nuclear sector is poised for a boom period and India plans to generate 20,000 MW power from atomic plants by 2020.
Banerjee said construction of the AHWR, which has a life span of 100 years.
"We have not announced the construction yet because we are looking for a suitable site," he said.
Source: Xinhua
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