Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project
Location of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in India Maharashtra
Country India
Coordinates 16°35′43″N 73°20′28″E / 16.59528°N 73.34111°ECoordinates: 16°35′43″N 73°20′28″E / 16.59528°N 73.34111°E
Status Received Conditional environmental clearance
Construction cost INR1.12 trillion (US$18 billion)[1]
Owner(s) Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Nuclear power station
Reactor type European Pressurized Reactor/Evolutionary Power Reactor
Reactor supplier Areva
Power generation
Units planned 6 x 1650 MW
Nameplate capacity 9900 MW

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (Marathi: जैतापूर अणुऊर्जा प्रकल्प) is a proposed 9900 MW power project of Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) at Madban village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.[2] If built, it would be the largest nuclear power generating station in the world by net electrical power rating.[3][4]

On 6 December 2010 agreement was signed for the construction of first set of two third-generation European Pressurized Reactors and the supply of nuclear fuel for 25 years in the presence of French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.[5]

French state-controlled nuclear engineering firm Areva S.A. and Indian state-owned nuclear operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India signed this multi billion valued agreement of about $9.3 billion. This is a general framework agreement along with agreement on 'Protection of Confidentiality of Technical Data and Information Relating to Nuclear Power Corporation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy' was also signed.[6][7][8][9][10]

Geography

The proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is located at the west coast. It has an average elevation of 90 feet (27 m). This project will spread over 968 hectares (3.74 sq mi; 9.68 km2) of land. Jaitapur is on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan in Western Ghats. It is also known as one of the best ports from the Neolithic era. In 2008, India applied to the UNESCO MAB for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site.[11][12] The Sahyadri Mountain range forms the eastern boundary of the Konkan, and the Arabian Sea marks the western boundary. Jaitapur was one of the important ports in ancient and early medieval times.[13]

Project description

Computer generated image of one EPR nuclear power unit.

It is proposed to construct 6 European Pressurized Reactors designed and developed by Areva of France, each of 1650 megawatts, thus totalling 9900 megawatts. These are the third generation pressurised water reactors (PWR).

Estimated cost of this project is around INR1000 billion (US$16 billion). This type of reactor is not currently operational anywhere in the world.[14][15] The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission had expressed concerns about the safety of the computer system in this reactor, but Finland has ordered one such reactor nonetheless.[14] The Finnish Olkiluoto 3 plant is currently under construction, but has experienced severe delays and cost overruns in construction. China has signed the agreement with Areva for three such reactors.[14] Also, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Indian and French governments and an agreement between Areva, a French state run company, and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India during French president Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to India during December 2010.[16]

The cost of building the plant is about Rs200 million/MWe capacity compared with Rs50 million/MWe for a coal power station,.[17] Nuclear power plants generally feature significantly higher investment cost while day-to-day operating cost is lower compared to combustion plants. The cost of electricity from this power plant will be below INR4 (6.3¢ US) per Kilowatt hour.[9]

A consortium of French financial institutions will finance this project as a loan. Both French and Indian government will give sovereign guarantee for this loan. The extent of guarantee will depend on what portion of the cost the French credit will cover. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will govern the interest rates and other terms of agreement. Interest rates and other terms are under discussion.[18]

It is one of several nuclear power projects being undertaken in a thin strip of coast of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. The total power generating capacity proposed on a narrow strip of coastal land 50 kilometres (31 mi) to 90 kilometres (56 mi) km wide and 200 kilometres (120 mi) long is around 33,000 MW.[2][19] The prospect of nuclear power generation in India received a boost after the Indo US Civilian Nuclear Agreement became operational in October 2008. India has also signed similar agreements with France and Russia.[20][21][22]

Controversy

Nuclear liability

According to Areva lack of clarity on The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 passed in Indian Parliament in August 2010 is a hurdle in finalising deal.[23] This Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 has a clause that deals with the legal binding of the culpable groups in case of a nuclear accident. It allows only the operator (NPCIL) to sue the manufacturers and suppliers. Victims will not be able to sue anyone. In reality, no one will be considered legally liable because the recourse taken by the operator will yield only INR15 billion (US$240 million). United States of America has a law on liability-related issues for all non-military nuclear facilities constructed in the United States before 2026 named Price–Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act. This American Act establishes a no fault insurance-type system in which the first $10 billion is industry-funded as described in the Act (any claims above the $10 billion would be covered by the federal government).[24][25]

Debate

Debate on nuclear power project at Jaitapur is ongoing on various levels. Environmental effects of nuclear power and geological issues have been raised by anti nuclear activists of India against this power project. Even though The Government of Maharashtra state completed land acquisition in January 2010, only 33 out of the 2,335 villagers have accepted compensation cheques as of November 2010.[26] As of Feb 12, 2014, land compensation has been accepted by all 2336 title holders.[27] A public hearing on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) Report, prepared by NEERI was conducted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, on behalf of Ministry of Environment and Forests on 16 April 2010, at the plant site. The public hearing became controversial as the EIA report was not delivered for study to 3 of the 4 Gram panchayat (local village bodies) a month in advance.[28]

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been filed against the government's civil nuclear program at the apex Supreme Court. The PIL specifically asks for the "staying of all proposed nuclear power plants till satisfactory safety measures and cost-benefit analyses are completed by independent agencies".[29][30]

Opponents

Since Jaitapur being seismically sensitive area, the danger of an earthquake has been foremost on the minds of people. According to the Earthquake hazard zoning of India, Jaitapur comes under Zone III. This zone is called the moderate Risk Zone and covers areas liable to MSK VIII.[31][32] The presence of two major creeks on the proposed site has been ignored while clearing the site.[33] Post the Chernobyl disaster and the Three Mile Island accident, environmentalists, citizens of the area and the people world over are questioning about safety, as when in 2007 the largest nuclear generating station in the world Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Japan at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant was closed for five months following an earthquake.[34][35]

The probability of a tsunami, and the damage thereof, has not been taken into account while clearing the site Nevertheless probability of a tsunami on the Arabian Sea coast is very low due to the lack of seismic activity in the ocean. Moreover jaitapur is located on plateau probability of tsunami reaching jaitapur is quite less.[36][37]

It is not clear where the nuclear waste emanating from the site will be dumped. The plant is estimated to generate 300 tonnes of waste each year. EPR waste will have about four times as much radioactive Bromine, Iodine, Caesium, etc., compared to ordinary pressurised water reactor.[14]

Since the plant will use the sea water for cooling and then release warm water in the Arabian Sea, fishermen in villages around are predicting destruction of fisheries in the nearby sea. Media articles also highlight the possible human and fisheries cost of this project.[38]

Social impact assessment review of the project are being conducted by the Jamsetji Tata centre for disaster management of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). According to this report, the Government of India is not fully transparent with its own citizens. The government is hiding facts about huge negative impact on the social and environmental development of the Konkan region in general and the government also manipulating notification of the area from high severity earthquake zone to moderate seismic severity zone.[39][40]

Proponents

Proponents are advocating the Jaitapur Project as safe, environmentally benign and economically viable source of electrical energy to meet the increasing electricity needs of India.[41] They believe that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions and increases energy security by decreasing India's dependence on foreign oil. The promoter of Jaitapur project is Nuclear Power Corporation of India. It is a public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (India).

I know the environmentalists will not be very happy with my
decision, but it is foolish romance to think that India can attain high
growth rate and sustain the energy needs of a 1.2 billion population
with the help of solar, wind, biogas and such other forms of energy.
It is paradoxical that environmentalists are against nuclear energy,

“
”

As of 2010, India is on the sixth in rank of an elite club of nations, after USA, France, Japan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea, to have twenty or more nuclear power reactors in operation.[42] The company is currently operating 20 nuclear power plants at six locations in India and is implementing construction of 7 reactors at four locations.[43] In 2009/10, company has generated 18831 million units of electricity.[44] According to former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar, the Jaitapur site is the best as it fulfilled the technical and scientific norms needed for a nuclear power plant.[45][46] It is proposed that the waste generated at this nuclear power plant be recycled. Only five per cent of it would be encapsulated and stored at technologically advanced places. It will not be buried anywhere. The waste will be stored for the next 30 to 40 years, till scientists develop some technology to treat it.[47] The environmental impact assessment and other associated studies of the Jaitapur project have been carried out in detail over the last few years by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur in collaboration with several other reputed organisations specializing in specific environment studies.[48]
These studies include Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Pre-operational Baseline Radiological Survey of the Area around JNPP Site, Central Water and Power Research Station Pune, Thermal Dispersion Studies for Condenser Cooling Water (CCW) Discharges, Konkan Krishi Vidyapith, College of Forestry, Dapoli, Baseline Biodiversity Study of the area around JNPP Site.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India has adopted a corporate social responsibility policy, by which 1.5 to 2 per cent of the net profit from Jaitapur plant would be spent in that area only. Development projects will be decided by local people and NPC will provide the funds to ensure development of these areas.[49]

Protests

Many protests have been carried out by local people against the proposed nuclear power plant. On 29 December 2009, 12 January 2010, and 22 January 2010, when the government authorities visited Madban for distribution of cheques in lieu of compulsory land acquisition, the villagers refused to accept the cheques. Government officials were shown black flags, denied any co-operation in carrying out their activities. 72 people were arrested on 22 January 2010 when people protested against the compulsory land acquisition.[50][51][52]

Debate about the nuclear power project at Jaitapur is ongoing on various levels. Environmental effects of nuclear power and geological issues have been raised by anti nuclear activists. Many protests have been carried out by local people against the proposed nuclear power plant. On 4 December 2010, protests became violent when over 1500 people were detained from among thousands of protesters, who included environmentalists and local villagers.

Members and leaders of the Konkan Bachao Samiti (KBS) and the Janahit Seva Samiti (organisations that are spearheading opposition to the project) were also detained. In Mumbai, members of various trade unions and social organisations came together to protest against the project. The protesters have raised serious doubts about the neutrality of the Environment Impact Assessment Report, prepared by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) which forms the basis of environmental clearance for the project, since parallel studies by the Bombay Natural History Society have shown that the project will cause substantial environmental damage.[53]

On 18 April 2011, one man was shot and killed by police and eight were injured after protests turned violent.[54][55]

Events

Timelines
Date Event Reference
28 November 2010 India, France N-regulatory bodies meet on EPR safety issues [56]
28 November 2010 Conditional environmental clearance
6 December 2010 Agreement signed with Areva for the construction of first set of two reactor.
14 March 2011 Legislators and Ministers repeatedly caught on camera napping through the lectures of former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar, in Maharashtra Assembly. [57]
16 March 2011 Safety at Jaitapur not my responsibility: Jairam Ramesh [58]
19 March 2011 India must learn from Japan's calamity and review all the planned nuclear projects in the country.: Former president of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. [59]
18 Jun 2014 Shiv Sena launches agitations [60][61]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Forbes India Magazine - A Perspective on the Nuclear Uproar in India. Business.in.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Deshpande, VIinaya (28 November 2010). "It's paradoxical that environmentalists are against nuclear energy: Jairam Ramesh". The Hindu (Mumbai- India). Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Jaitapur nuclear project: villagers turn down compensation". The Hindu (Mumbai- India). 25 July 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Nuclear Power in India". World Nuclear Association. November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  5. ↑ Yep, Eric & Jagota, Mukesh (6 December 2010). "Areva and NPCIL Sign Nuclear Agreement". The Wall Street Journal – Business (online). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "India, France sign nuclear power deal- Hindu". The Hindu (New Delhi). Associates Press. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  7. ↑ NDTV Correspondents (6 December 2010). "India-France sign agreement on civil nuclear cooperation". New Delhi: NDTV. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  8. ↑ Vaiju Naravane; Sandeep Dikshit (2 December 2010). "Sarkozy eyes big contracts". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Naravane, Vaiju (25 November 2010). ""We are partners over the long haul" Interview with Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva.". The Hindu (Paris). Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  10. ↑ Deshpande, VIinaya (29 November 2010). "Environmental clearance for Jaitapur nuclear project". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  11. ↑ "World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster". UNESCO, MAB. 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  12. ↑ सकाळ न्यूज नेटवर्क (10 June 2010). "जैतापूर प्रकल्पाच्या सर्व बाजू तपासणार – रत्नागिरी आणि सिंधुदुर्ग हे जिल्हे जैवविविधतेच्या समृद्धीमुळे पर्यावरण मंत्रालयातर्फे यापूर्वीच संरक्षित म्हणून जाहीर.." (in Marathi). New Delhi: Sakal newspaper. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  13. ↑ Hebalkar, Sharad (2001). Ancient Indian ports: with special reference to Maharashtra (illustrated ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 175. ISBN 9788121508582. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 A Gopalakrishnan (3 December 2010). "Reject French reactors for Jaitapur". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  15. ↑ "European pressurised reactors costlier, less efficient: expert". Sify.com, India News Portal. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Nicholas Sarkozy and Manmohan Singh in nuclear deal". New Delhi: BBC. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. ↑ A Perspective on the Nuclear Uproar in India
  18. ↑ Mukul, Jyoti (23 December 2010). "Sovereign guarantee for Jaitapur Nuclear project". Business Standard (New Delhi). Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  19. ↑ ANI (29 November 2010). "There are other power projects coming up on a thin strip of coast of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg with power generation adding up to 33,000 MW.". Sify News. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  20. ↑ "DNA Report on France India Nuclear Agreement". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  21. ↑ "French Parliament ratifies indo-french nuclear deal". Daily News and Analysis. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  22. ↑ "Indo-Russian Nuclear Deal on BBC". BBC News. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  23. ↑ Roy, Shubhajit (7 December 2010). "Jaitapur n-reactors flagged off but liability concerns remain". The Indian Express (New Delhi). Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  24. ↑ "Civil liability for nuclear damage". Eoearth.org. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  25. ↑ "US nuke team pushes for firm commitment on project sites". Business Line (The Hindu Bureau). 14 January 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  26. ↑ Rebello, Snehal (29 November 2010). "Nod for Jaitapur nuclear project in time for French President's visit". Hindustan Times (Mumbai). Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  27. ↑ x, y (12 February 2014). "No displacement due to Jaitapur nuclear power project: govt". The Hindu (New Delhi). Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  28. ↑ "Jaitapur EIA Public Hearing". Lokayatpune.wordpress.com. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  29. ↑ Siddharth Srivastava (27 October 2011). "India's Rising Nuclear Safety Concerns". Asia Sentinel.
  30. ↑ Ranjit Devraj (25 October 2011). "Prospects Dim for India's Nuclear Power Expansion as Grassroots Uprising Spreads". Inside Climate News.
  31. ↑ "Vulnerability Zones in India". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  32. ↑ "Seismic Zone Map of India". Mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  33. ↑ "Jaitapur N-plant: Ministry nod ignored creeks, trusted old data". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "Nuclear plant hit by earthquake closed indefinitely in Japan". The New York Times (KASHIWAZAKI, Japan). 18 July 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  35. ↑ "Nuclear Power, Caught in an Earthquake, Has Japan's earthquake sent us a wakeup call?". ABC news. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  36. ↑ "Japan offers lessons, but N-power vital: Jairam". Business Standard (New Delhi). 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  37. ↑ Bahar Dutt (17 March 2011). "Jaitapur project may be scrapped: Ramesh". New Delhi: CNN-IBN. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  38. ↑ "Tehelaka Report". Tehelka.com. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  39. ↑ Siddhaye, Ninad (26 December 2010). "Jaitapur nuke plant will be a social disaster: TISS report". Daily News and Analysis (Mumbai). Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  40. ↑ "Anti-Jaitapur project campaigners up ante". Special Correspondent (Mumbai). 3 December 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  41. ↑ "MISSION AND OBJECTIVES of NPCIL". NPCIL. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  42. ↑ Nagaich, Nalinish (27 November 2010). "India at Sixth Rank in the World with its 20th Nuclear Power Reactor Commencing Operation" (PDF). Mumbai- India: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  43. ↑ "about Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited". Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  44. ↑ "Nuclear Power Generation (2006–07 to 2010–11) by NPCL". Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  45. ↑ "Jaitapur nuclear power plant no threat to environment: Kakodkar". The Indian Express (Pune). Express News Service. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  46. ↑ Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (India); Indian National Science Academy; National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (New Delhi, India) (1994). Indian journal of marine sciences. Volume-23, Page- 34. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  47. ↑ "Jaitapur project will not harm environment, says Kakodkar". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), grants Environmental Clearance for Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP)" (PDF) (Press release). Mumbai- India: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  49. ↑ Jog, Sanjay (29 November 2010). "Nuclear Power Corporation is committed to environment protection' Q&A: S K Jain, CMD". Mumabi: Business Standard. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  50. ↑ Balakrishnan, Bhaskar (10 February 2009). "Unleashing India's nuclear potential". Business Daily from THE HINDU. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  51. ↑ Menon, Meena (18 January 2010). "Nuclear power plant opposed". The Hindu (MADBAN (Ratnagiri district)). Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  52. ↑ "जैतापूर प्रकल्प : ‘कोकण बचाव समिती’चे थेट वाद-विवादाचे आव्हान – बैठक ३ डिसेंबरला" (in Marathi). Mumbai: लोकसत्ता Loksatta. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  53. ↑ Deshpande, Vinaya (5 December 2010). "Protest against Jaitapur nuclear plant". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  54. ↑ AFP: Indian police kill protester in anti-nuclear demo AFP in Google News, published 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2011-04-19
  55. ↑ "One dead, 8 hurt as protest against Jaitapur N-plant turns violent". The Times of India (Jaitapur). IANS. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  56. ↑ "India, France N-regulatory bodies meet on EPR safety issues". Mumbai: MSN News. PTI. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  57. ↑ Headlines Today Bureau (14 March 2011). "Maharashtra MLAs nap as scientists discuss- lack of interest in knowing about the advantages and disadvantages of a nuclear plant risks of Japan nuclear plant". India Today (Mumbai). Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  58. ↑ Eluvangal, Sreejiraj (16 March 2011). "Safety at Jaitapur not my responsibility: Jairam Ramesh". New Delhi: DNA. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  59. ↑ "Lesson from Japan, review N-projects, says Kalam". The Times of India (Pune). 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  60. ↑ Chandavarkar, Rohit (Jun 18, 2014). "Shiv Sena launches agitations against Jaitapur nuke power plant, Navi Mumbai international airport". Economic Times (Economic Times). Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  61. ↑ "Jaitapur project to be scrapped if Shiv Sena comes to power: Uddhav Thackeray". timesofindia-economictimes. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
Further reading

External links