Source - Business Standard

Local resistance has meant denial of entry into Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam site for 130 Russian scientists and engineers who are in India since 2002, developing the nuclear project. Mr En Dudkin head of the Russian specialists group, told Mr Sanjay Jog about the necessity of clean power, the project’s safety and the agitation.

Q - The Fukushima accident has been a major turning point for the global nuclear industry. Against this backdrop, how will the Kudankulam project fulfil safety requirements?

A - The Fukushima disaster (in Japan) was the result of a natural calamity (a tsunami). The reason was not technological. For India, China and all major developing countries, there is no other alternative to nuclear energy. This is the most economic, safe and ecologically clean.

From the technology point of view, safety is of primary importance and has to be observed by all means. As far as the (2,000 MW) Kudankulam project is concerned, it is the safest power plant in the world. The project has AS 92 design, with VVER 1,000 reactors. This is a fourth generation plant. It is implemented strictly observing all safety norms, according to the Russian Federation norms and laws. The design has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency and certified by the European community and also by the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

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