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"We need the uranium supply and definitely the pact is important if we want to meet the target of nuclear energy's contribution in the total energy production," Kalam said.
He was speaking at a function in the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the ‘Shakti' series of the Pokhran nuclear tests.
Kalam, who had played a key role in Pokhran II, said, "currently we have an installed capacity of only 3,900 MW which the Department of Atomic Energy plans to take to 7,160 MW by 2012 and to 24,000 MW by 2020. Our uranium reserves are limited. We will need a certain amount of uranium to attain the next stage in the fuel cycle producing energy on thorium which is available in abundance in India."
Kalam also said India must reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for energy production by 2020 and endorsed adopting various non-conventional and renewable sources, besides nuclear energy, for generating electricity.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar said the country is no longer ‘technology limited’ but ‘raw material limited’ and exuded the confidence that India would overcome the limitation.
Kakodkar, however, declined to comment on the status of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal currently being debated by the UPA-Left Committee.
"We have discussed this deal with other countries and the IAEA. Now the rest of the decision is not technical."
"We should adopt strategies that would bridge the gap (of uranium supply) as early as possible without compromising our autonomy to pursue our own development as planned both in strategic as well as the three stage programmes," Kakodkar, who was part of the long-drawn negotiation on the deal, said.
Meanwhile, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, R Chidambaram said, "I tell the Americans that we need to collaborate in the short term as it will be beneficial for them in the long term."
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RatingChina on the other hand continuously supporting Pakistan
We are not sure about the change of position by Dr. A J Kalam but surely Brijesh Misra has changed his stand.Yashwant Sinha has said that those who have changed their position need to explain to the country the basis for the change.Brijesh Misra is certainly in it. He had been a pricipal adviser to the PM. He has changed his stand. Obviously there should be some reasons for the change. He must come forward and explain to the country as to why he now thinks that the n-deal should be accepted.To give an explanation will not only be in his own interest but will also help the GOvt. to select an aide to PM.
There is no second thought about the demand for an additional nuclear power plant, which is only desirable and not extremely important as there are better options available.Why didn't the Govt float a tender from all nuclear countries for setting up the power plant and select the economical one with track record.This approach would have kept every one's mouth shut.On the contrary our PM signed the agreement and came back to the parliament for ratification, which had shown his vested interest on the US deal.Hence,it is more likely that the project will not take off till UPA is in power.
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