http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6107916.stm
Even as the talks with IAEA are going on in Vienna, the CPM asserted the government should take the next step on the Indo-US nuclear deal only on the basis of the UPA-Left Committee's findings. The findings must be made public so that the people too have a say in the matter.
Current trends show that demand for power is set to grow by 53% by 2030. But oil supplies show signs of running down. Natural gas stocks - in recent times the fuel of choice for electricity generation are also showing signs of depletion. Coal, the fuel of the industrial revolution, remains relatively abundant; but coal produces more greenhouse gas emissions for the energy it gives.
But if government delivers on promises to push cleaner and more efficient supplies, growth in demand could be restrained by about 10%. Greater use of nuclear power could be a "valuable option" to cut imports and curb CO2 emissions. The additional nuclear power plants would also have the advantage of being less vulnerable to fuel price changes than coal or gas-fired generation, helping to enhance the security of electricity supplies.
Given that world energy demand, and more particularly electricity demand, is increasing, we need sources of electricity supply that are safe, affordable, with abundant fuel and are environmental benign. The virtues of nuclear power in all of those respects are obvious. The additional upfront costs involved are quickly outweighed by savings in fuel expenditure. A shift to the nuclear energy would serve all three of the principal goals of energy policy: greater security, more environmental protection and improved economic efficiency.
Under the circumstances, the ultimatum by the government's Communist allies to make its stand clear on the agreement and opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal indicates an extremely shortsighted approach to India’s long term requirements.
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