There is scope for different countries to contribute to fulfilling India's energy requirement, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said in Indore on Monday.
Responding to a question as to whether the Indo-US nuclear agreement would affect India's long-standing bilateral relations with Russia, Kadodkar said, "Our energy requirement is too much and there is a scope for everyone (every country) to contribute. There is no problem."
Kakodkar had come to inaugurate the fourth Asian Particle Accelerator Conference at the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology near Indore.
Referring to nuclear energy production in the country, he said at present 3,900 mw of energy was produced from nuclear sources, while work was in progress to produce 3,300 mw. Besides, the government has given in-principle approval for producing 6,800 mw of additional nuclear power.
A 220 mw nuclear power plant would start generating power at Kaiga by the end of this financial year, he said.
In the year 2010, a 500 mw fast-breeder reactor will also be commissioned, Kakodkar informed.
Earlier, addressing the delegates who arrived at the venue from different countries, Kakodkar advocated participation between institutes like RRCAT and industries in the development of accelerator and laser programmes to provide benefits of research to the people.
He also said that courses should be devised in such a manner that more youths would take research as a career in the country.
