IAEA to conduct safety audits of Indian n-plants

New Delhi: India will invite the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct safety reviews and audits of its nuclear power plants. This was announced by foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai at the UN high level meeting on nuclear safety on Friday.

At the UN meet, Mathai said, "India views nuclear energy as an essential element of its national energy basket. We are committed to taking forward our three stage nuclear programme based on a closed fuel cycle. We envisage a major expansion of nuclear energy in the coming decades - 20,000 MW by 2020 and projected to grow to 60,000 MW by 2030."

Mathai said India had taken several new measures post-Fukushima and the new sense of unease prevailing over all things related to nuclear energy.

"These include the introduction of a bill in Parliament to change the functional status of AERB to a de jure independent Nuclear Regulatory Authority. Six safety review committees have looked into various aspects of nuclear safety and while detailed reviews are being evaluated, certain enhanced safety measures are already being implemented."

Mathai added that while all nuclear plants will meet enhanced safety standards, "safety evaluation reports and follow-up measures are being put in the public domain to enhance transparency and boost public confidence."