Year End review: Department of Atomic Energy

Year End review: Department of Atomic Energy

Following are the main highlights of the activities of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) during the year 2016:

·         Unit 1, (1000 MWe) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) was dedicated to the nation on August 10, 2016 by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Russian President Shri Vladimir Putin.

·         Unit 2 (1000 MWe) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project achieves criticality and dedicated to the nation. Second Nuclear power reactor Unit of 1000 MWe capacity at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu achieved criticality on 10th July, 2016. This is the second 1,000 MWe pressurised water reactor to go critical in the country. The first unit at Kudankulam went critical in July 2013. The Unit 2 (1000 MWe) of Kudankulam Project was later dedicated to the Indo-Russian Partnership on October 15, 2016 during the BRICS Summit by the Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi and Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.

·         Foundation laying of Units 3 & 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. On October 15, 2016, laying of Foundation Concrete of Units 3&4 of KKNPP was also done by the Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi and Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.

·         India-Japan Agreement for Cooperation in Nuclear Energy. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and the Japanese Prime Minister Shri Shinzo Abe, signed the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between the two countries, on November 11, 2016, which reflects a new level of mutual confidence and strategic partnership in the cause of clean energy, economic development and a peaceful and secure world.

·         India becomes Associate Member of CERN, Geneva (November 21, 2016). India and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement making India an Associate Member State of CERN. This follows CERN Council’s adoption of the resolution to this effect on September 15, 2016. The agreement was signed by Dr. Sekhar Basu, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and CERN Director General Dr. Fabiola Gianotti in Mumbai. Participation in CERN programmes is a success story of scientific collaborations and cooperation where researchers from large number of national Institutes and Universities from India work together in forming active collaborations in the pursuit of fundamental knowledge, achieving scientific and engineering breakthrough as well as training the next generation of scientists.

·         Cabinet grants ‘in-principle’ approval to the LIGO-India mega science proposal. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ‘in principle’ approval to the LIGO-India mega science proposal for research on gravitational waves, on February 17, 2016. The proposal, known as LIGO-India project (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory in India) is piloted by Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology (DST). The approval coincided with the historic detection of gravitational waves a few days ago that opened up of a new window on the universe to unravel some of its greatest mysteries. 

·         India supplied indigenous teletherapy machine Bhabhatron, for cancer treatment to Bougando Medical Centre in Tanzania. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had earlier announced the donation of the Bhabhatron II Teletherapy machine to the Centre during his visit to Tanzania in July 2016.

·         Novel design of CO₂ sorbents. Scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, DAE have developed a novel design of CO₂ sorbents that show superior CO₂ capture capacity and stability over conventional materials.

·         DHRUVA reactor at Trombay, producing medical isotopes, operated at full power throughout the year and touched its highest ever capacity factor since its commissioning.

·         BARC develops kit for detection of Chromium contamination of water (August 17, 2016). BARC has developed a simple, user friendly, quick and cost effective kit for onsite determination of Cr (VI), which meets IS10500 as well as EPA criterion. It provides the much needed solution to measure the level of Chromium contamination in drinking water and tap water, lakes, rivers as well as ground water. This is yet another example of BARC’s efforts towards ‘Make in India’ campaign of the Government of India. This kit can be used for detection of carcinogenic Chromium in ground water around the Ganga belt.

·         BARC and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology sign MoU for joint development of Deep Brain Stimulator. As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between BARC & SCTMIST on August 12, 2016, BARC will develop the device as per specifications provided by SCTMIST and SCTMIST will be responsible for clinical trials, testing and qualification. Electronics Division, Reactor Control Division and Centre for Design & Manufacture of BARC will participate in the development of various subsystems. The 1st prototypes are planned to be available in 3 years. 

·         Hall of Nuclear Energy inaugurated in Delhi. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the “Hall of Nuclear Power” in New Delhi on January 16, 2016. This is Northern India’s first permanent exhibition on nuclear power, built in the national capital at National Science Centre (NSC).  The exhibition, titled ‘Hall of Nuclear Power – Atoms Serving the Nation’ is spread over an area of about 700 sq. m., with over 60 permanent exhibits, covering various aspects of nuclear energy, with prime focus on nuclear power plant safety and applications for human welfare, which include nuclear medicine, food irradiation, as well as several other day-to-day applications of nuclear energy. Scientific information about nuclear power generation, its basics and non-power uses of nuclear and radiation technology has also been showcased at the gallery. The gallery is replete with the state-of-the-art exhibits, interactive kiosks, virtual tour (of a nuclear power plant in a mini theater), glasses-free 3D displays, touch-screen info panels, as well as quiz and interactive Q&A exhibits for the visitors. 

·         International Conference on “India’s role in Global Nuclear Governance”.  A three-day International conference on “India’s role in Global Nuclear Governance” was organised in New Delhi from February 24-26, 2016. The conference was organized by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). This conference brings together scholars working on global nuclear governance in India and abroad to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the emerging nuclear governance architecture. It focuses on how India can play a more proactive role as a driver of new ideas on the subject.

·         National Symposium on “Public Education on Radiation Safety”.  A National Symposium on “Public Education on Radiation Safety” was held in New Delhi on February 16, 2016. A book on “Radiation Safety Management” was also released. MoS Dr Jitendra Singh stressed upon the urgent need to start a country wide awareness campaign to educate the public about the enormous peaceful benefits of nuclear energy and to clear the air about the apprehensions which sometimes come in the way of setting up of new atomic and nuclear plants under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). 

·         8th Nuclear Energy Conclave.  The 8^th Nuclear Energy Conclave was organised by India Energy Forum in New Delhi on September 30, 2016.  The Theme of the Conference this year was “Meeting the Non-Fossil Energy Targets through Nuclear Power”. The Conclave focussed on advanced technologies for safer and cleaner fossil energy leveraging domestic engineering/manufacturing/construction capabilities, advancement of technology within the country, Safety and Regulation.