Kalam pushes for nuclear power in Athens

Asserting that energy independence is India's first and highest priority, President A P J Abdul Kalam Friday said the country has to go in for nuclear power in a big way using thorium-based reactors.

"Energy independence is India's first and highest priority. We are determined to achieve this by the year 2030 through three different sources -- renewable energy, electrical power from nuclear energy and hydro-power for the transportation sector," Kalam said addressing scientists of Greek's National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos in Athens.

Pointing out that energy independence threw very important technological challenges to the world, Kalam told the scientists of Greece, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, that there was a need for converting thorium into a fissile material using fast breeder technology.

"India has to go in for nuclear power generation in a big way using thorium-based reactors. Thorium, a non-fissile material is available in abundance in our country.

"Intensive research is essential for converting thorium for maximising its utilisation and generating electric power through thorium-based reactors," Kalam said.

Calling for greater cooperation between Greece and Indian scientists, the President listed seven areas -- energy sector, nuclear power generation, proteomics, HIV/AIDS, stem cell, earthquake and rainfall -- where the two countries could begin research together.

On HIV/AIDS, Kalam noted that there had been progress in testing the vaccines for prevention from the disease.

"It is indeed a big challenge for life science scientists to develop an integrated vaccine leading to production in three years time," he said, adding similarly stem cell research has to be pursued in a mission mode for finding a cure for many diseases.

On earthquake and rainfall, the President said it was essential for the two countries to work on a mission mode research for forecasting quakes and rainfall.

"...the necessity for a global monsoon research to determine the intensity and quantum of rain in a particular cloud condition, through a validated prediction system with detailed research" was the need of the hour, he said.

Similarly, the President said, it was necessary to forecast earthquakes using multiple parameters with precursors such as pre-shock conditions, electro-magnetic phenomena prior to final rupture and atmospheric and ionospheric anomalies.