Czech Republic makes a dash for nuclear power deal with India

[Hindustani78]

Czech Republic makes a dash for nuclear power deal with India | Zee News
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 - 20:45
New Delhi: The Czech Republic is "trying its best" to clinch a nuclear power agreement with India even as the bilateral trade between the two nations is poised to hit USD 3 billion in the next two years, Czech Ambassador to India Milan Hovorka said on Tuesday.

Addressing a news conference at the PHD Chamber, Hovorka announced that he will meet Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday to discuss the possibilities of taking forward the nuclear power cooperation between India and the Czech Republic.

Hovorka added that the Czech Republic is trying its best to pull off a nuclear power agreement with India and looking to boost cooperation in steel, pharma and technical sectors too.

"The issue of nuclear power cooperation between Indian and the Czech Republic is being debated and deliberated upon for over two years, but somehow it's not conclusive as yet.

"Since India has also been trying to build new capacities in the nuclear sector and Czech has abundant thorium at its possession, it's imperative that India and Czech begin to cooperate on this front. A new beginning to this effect will be made when I meet the Indian Power Minister on Wednesday," he said.

According to him, the existing trade volumes of USD 1.3 billion between India and the Czech Republic need to go up to at least USD 2 billion in the next 12 months before they attain the projected target of USD 3 billion by 2017.

"It is because of this reason that the Czechs would want India to expand its existing trade basket by seeking to collaborate with India in sectors like hydro, wind, bio and other sectors.

"The Czechs can also offer India its superior technologies to enable it to reduce the CO2 emissions from large and medium size companies to help protect its environment," said the Ambassador.

PTI

 

[Raj Guru]

Good to see even small Euro Countries are supporting us.

 

[Ragnar]

Czech has abundant thorium at its possession

India also has decent Thorium supplies.. So what does this mean.?

 

[yugocrosrb95]

India also has decent Thorium supplies.. So what does this mean.?

Nuclear fuel.

 

[Hindustani78]

India also has decent Thorium supplies.. So what does this mean.?

• Natural Uranium deposits - ~70,000 tonnes
• Thorium deposits - ~ 3,60,000 tonnes
  
  

STAGE 3» Breeder Reactor
The third phase of India’s Nuclear Power Generation programme is, breeder reactors using U-233 fuel. India’s vast thorium deposits permit design and operation of U-233 fuelled breeder reactors.

• U-233 is obtained from the nuclear transmutation of Th-232 used as a blanket in the second phase Pu-239 fuelled FBR.
• Besides, U-233 fuelled breeder reactors will have a Th-232 blanket around the U-233 reactor core which will generate more U-233 as the reactor goes operational thus resulting in the production of more and more U-233 fuel from the Th-232 blanket as more of the U-233 in the fuel core is consumed helping to sustain the long term power generation fuel requirement.
• These U-233/Th-232 based breeder reactors are under development and would serve as the mainstay of the final thorium utilization stage of the Indian nuclear programme. The currently known Indian thorium reserves amount to 358,000 GWe-yr of electrical energy and can easily meet the energy requirements during the next century and beyond.

we have thorium. In fact, a third of the world’s reserves. Bhabha decided that in the long run, India’s N-programme should run on thorium. But thorium cannot be converted into nuclear fuel in a straightforward manner. So, we had to devise a three-stage nuclear plan: In the first stage, India would build a series of heavy water reactors and fuel them with natural uranium. From the spent fuel, we would derive plutonium, a highly concentrated fuel which could be used for both weapons and future fast breeder reactors (FBR). In some years, we would move to stage 2 of the programme when enough plutonium would be available to fuel FBRs, so called because they produce (‘breed’) more plutonium than they consume as fuel. Thorium, after irradiation in FBRs would be converted to U-233, which can be used in the third stage reactors along with more thorium. Theoretically, once we begin to run many breeders, we are assured of a ‘perpetual’ supply of fuel for those reactors. A third stage reactor called the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) has been designed and will be taken up for construction in the near future. The Prototype FBR at Kalpakkam thus represents the beginning of the stage 2 of the nuclear programme. The plan may look simple, but it has been a big challenge these past decades to get to where we are.

Thorium plays a pivotal role in Indian Nuclear power programme. Right from the inception of Indian nuclear power programme, work has been carried out on various aspects of thorium utilisation-mining and extraction of thorium, fuel fabrication, irradiation in reactors, reprocessing and refabrication. In addition, studies have been carried out regarding use of thorium in different types of reactors.

A small research reactor KAMINI with 30 kWth capacity which utilises nuclear fuel based on Uranium-233 derived from irradiation of thorium, has been in operation at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam.

The third stage of Indian nuclear power programme contemplates making use of Uranium-233 to fuel Uranium-233 – Thorium based reactors, which can provide energy independence to the country for several centuries.

Good to see even small Euro Countries are supporting us.

Indian scientists are one of the best scientists who works round the clock for the benefit of humankind but we Indians dont get our share in the contributions.

 

[Shotgunner51]

"The Czechs can also offer India its superior technologies to enable it to reduce the CO2 emissions from large and medium size companies to help protect its environment," said the Ambassador.

Good to see even small Euro Countries are supporting us.

That's very true, they need market just like everyone else.

In fact some small CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) countries are also active in nuclear power. For example China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) has signed with Romania on constructing reactor 3 & 4 at their Cernavoda plant, that's their expansion plan. CEE could be a big potential partner.

 

[Hindustani78]

It is not just Thorium. One of the reason of that India signing Nuclear deal with pretty much everyone is in order to bypass NPT completely and make it redundant.

NPT opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970.

Chinese conducted Nuclear test in 1964


After China and the Soviet Union broke off relations in 1959 on the issue of insistence by China of transfer of nuclear weapon technology to it, the Chinese decided to go it alone and launched their nuclear weapon development programme.

India as a member of the 8-member Non- Aligned Group played an important role in the Eighteen Nationsd Disarmament Committee (ENDC) in the conclusion of the treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water, commonly known as Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) which came into force in October 1963. India has all along advocated a comprehensive Test Ban Treaty as the most important disarmament measure.

India signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty, while China refused to do so. After China exploded the atomic bomb in 1964, the Indian policy underwent a change.

Before China exploded the atomic bomb in 1964, India was one of the most active and vocal members of the non
-nuclear states which had advocated the non -proliferation of nuclear weapons.



The Indian objection to the NPT were listed in a statement made by Ambassador M.A. Hussain of India at 57
th meeting of the first committee of the UN on 14th May 1968. They were :

1 .The treaty did not ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons but only stopped the dissemination of weapons to non- nuclear weapons states with out imposing any curbs on the continued manufacture, stockpiling and sophistication of nuclear weapons by the existing nuclear weapon states,

2.The treaty did not do away with the special status of superiority associated with power and prestige conferred on those powers which have nuclear weapons,

3. The treaty did not provide for balance of obligations and responsibilities between the nuclear weapon states and non
- nuclear weapon states; while allthe obligations were imposed on non-nuclear weapon states, the nuclear weapon states had not accepted any;

4. The treaty did not constitute a step by step approach towards nucleardisarmament;





In November 1964, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri authorized theoretical work on the Subterranean Nuclear Explosion for Peaceful Purposes (SNEPP). India commissioned a reprocessing facility at Trombay, which was used to separate out the plutonium produced by the CIRUS research reactor. This plutonium was used in India's first nuclear test on May 18, 1974, described by the Indian government as a “peaceful nuclear explosion.” An expert analysis of the explosion demonstrated India’s capability to produce nuclear weapons.

 

[Raj Guru]

That's very true, they need market just like everyone else.

In fact some small CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) countries are also active in nuclear power. For example China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) has signed with Romania on constructing reactor 3 & 4 at their Cernavoda plant, that's their expansion plan. CEE could be a big potential partner.

hmm... good toknow. but hy Romanians want Nuke power plants ? i thought all euros are hippies who want to save "mother earth"

 

[Shotgunner51]

hmm... good toknow. but hy Romanians want Nuke power plants ? i thought all euros are hippies who want to save "mother earth"

I am not sure about other CEE countries but Romania has been using nuclear power, i.e. the Cernavoda plant, since 1996. They plan to add 2 more new ones to the existing 2 reactors.

Whatever anti-nuke movement says about its disadvantages, it does have merits, and should stay as an option on the table at least within a forseeable future, pragmatism prevails.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
15-October, 2015 19:15 IST
India's nuclear programme underlines 'Make in India' initiative: Dr Jitendra Singh

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that India’s nuclear programme underlines “Make in India” initiative and recent achievements through indigenous resources have demonstrated India’s enormous potential in the field of nuclear science and research.

Addressing the “India Nuclear Energy Summit 2015” in Mumbai today, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the last year-and-a-half has been eventful in more ways than one. On the one hand, it was during this period that a new government took over headed by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who has a natural scientific temper and on the other hand, it was during the same period when the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) observed Diamond Jubilee of its establishment as a tribute to its founding father Homi J. Bhabha. It is also a vindication of Homi Bhabha’s mission that today India has become a frontrunner in the world in the field of nuclear energy and has also successfully proved its ability to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, he added.

Allaying fears and apprehensions of some manufacturers and suppliers, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act of 2010 does not place anybody at disadvantage. The Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) will cover the operators’ liability under the CLND Act, 2010 and adequately address the liability related concerns of national as well as international suppliers, he said.

For any scientific venture to be viable in the long run, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it has to have social applicability and at the same time also be economically viable. In this regard, he referred to the Department of Atomic Energy’s social contribution in areas of health, literacy and clean drinking water and on the economic front, he emphasized the important future role of nuclear energy for long term energy security of India.

Referring to various important ongoing programmes, Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned the 3-stage nuclear power programme with Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in the first stage, Fast Breeder Reactors in the second stage and Thorium based reactors to be put up in the third stage. He stressed that although the programme is indigenous, India has also entered into agreements with several countries like France, Russia and USA to establish a large generation capacity.

Dr. R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Ron Oberth, President, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, Miss Natalia Kudryashova, Counsellor, Russian Federation, Shri S.K. Malhotra, Chairman, India Nuclear Energy Summit, Dr. Sunil Felix, Nuclear Counsellor in the French Embassy and Shri Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India also spoke in the inaugural session.

***

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh at the “India Nuclear Energy Summit – 2015”, in Mumbai on October 15, 2015. The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. R.K. Sinha and other dignitaries are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of Culture of Czech Republic, Mr. Daniel Herman meeting the Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in New Delhi on September 11, 2017.

The Minister of Culture of Czech Republic, Mr. Daniel Herman meeting the Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in New Delhi on September 11, 2017.

The Minister of Culture of Czech Republic, Mr. Daniel Herman meeting the Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in New Delhi on September 11, 2017. The Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Smt. Rashmi Verma and other dignitaries are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Commerce & Industry
23-October, 2018 16:25 IST
India – Czech Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation held in Prague

The eleventh session of India – Czech Republic Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) was held on 22nd – 23rd October 2018 at Prague. The Indian delegation was led by Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution, C. R. Chaudhary. Miss Marta Nováková, Minister of Industry & Trade of Czech Republic led the Czech side. The deliberations were marked with the mutual desire to further expand and strengthen relations between the two countries in the economic field.

C. R. Chaudhary said that India’s growth story and Czech technological expertise and manufacturing prowess make two natural partners. He said that economies of both the countries have significant complementarity which can be leveraged for mutually beneficial cooperation. He also held a meeting with Mr. Martin Tlapa, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic and discussed various issues including direct flight, long term study visa, strengthening of mutual Trade and investment relations. Technical meeting of 11th session of India-Czech Republic Joint Economic Commission was held simultaneously at Prague. A protocol was subsequently signed by C. R. Chaudhary and Ms. Marta Novakova, Minister of Trade and Industry, Czech Republic.

The Czech side stressed that the Czech Government continues to rank India among the priority countries for promotion of mutual commercial, investment and economic activities and stated that Czech companies are interested to cooperate with Indian partners within the framework of the ‘Make in India’ programme.

Both sides welcomed the opening of the new Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Bengaluru and expressed the hope that the process of the establishment of the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Chennai would be completed soon.

Both sides agreed that the recent growth of global protectionism had negatively affected many countries and concerted effort is required for a positive outlook for the future. Both sides shared the view that solutions should be sought for closer economic cooperation as well as for promotion of multilateral and inter-regional trade.

Stressing on the importance of a rule-based multilateral trading system embodied in WTO both sides expressed concern over the current protectionist and anti-globalist tendencies that threaten free trade.

Both sides reviewed developments in their bilateral trade since the 10th Session of the Joint Commission held in New Delhi in January 2015 and welcomed the increasing trend in the volume of trade. They appreciated a record level of trade exchange in 2017 and noted that this exchange was almost balanced. However, the Joint Commission expressed the opinion that the level of trade does not fully reflect the existing potential and should be further realised. The Indian side noted that as per the Indian statistics, bilateral trade between India and Czech Republic crossed USD 1 billion in 2016-17.

Czechoslovakia is preparing a project called Czech Industrial Cluster (CIC) near Bengaluru. The CIC will comprise administrative and production units and will serve as a hub for Czech companies that intend to settle down in India. The CIC may also serve as a base of inter-academic cooperation between both the countries. The Czech side would appreciate support and cooperation of Indian authorities during creating CIC units and in setting of conditions for Czech investors coming to CIC.

Both sides observed that tourism was an important area having great potential for increased interaction. Stating that both countries offer excellent opportunities for excursion tours as well as for group tourism, the sides appreciated contacts between both national tourism authorities and joint promotion of tourism.

The Czech side noted that arrivals of Indian tourist to the Czech Republic constantly grew up and in 2017, number of tourists from India reached almost 100 thousand people. The number of Czech tourists to India grew up as well last year, though this number is more modest – approximately 13 thousand people. Both sides shared the view that establishing direct flights between India and the Czech Republic would create favourable conditions for mutual tourism development.

The two sides reaffirmed their support to finalizing an ambitious and balanced Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) between India and the EU. The Czech side noted that India is one of the most important partners for the EU and liberalization of our markets would be beneficial in the long term for both sides. It is also vital to set the binding rules that may govern our trade relations and deepen the co-operation in the economic area. The India side stated that India is committed to an early and balanced outcome of India-EU BTIA negotiations of which investment is an important track.

It is important to resume negotiations at the earliest and without pre-conditions. Any FTA has to be balanced and mutually beneficial. India has been sensitive to EU’s concerns and has gone an extra mile to be accommodative.

***

MM/ SB