N-Deal for energy ?
The report, Naural gas to fill India's energy needs, by Shankar Raghuraman (TOI,12/7) makes it clear India has to deped on natural gas rather than nuclear power for its energy needs. The Energy Information Agency (EIA) of the US Department of Energy projects the total installed power to go up from 1,38,000 MW in 2005 to 3,98,000 MW by 2030. It projects about 20,000 MW of nuclear power in 2030 which is hardly 5% of India's needs. Planning Commission's Working Group on Power expects to reach 20,000 MW in 2017 which would be about 6.7%. EIA's projected trend for global nuclear energy is lower at 7.1% in 2030 from the 9.6% in 2005. If this is the case, why UPA is asking us to support its N-deal for energy security ? Indian people deserve a proper reply.
Atomic experts such as Dr. P.K.Iyengar have raised many questions on restrictive clauses in the deal and he has pointed out that the price of uranium has gone up from $20 to $85 a pound in the last three years. The uranium cartel is as bad as the crude cartel. It is like flying from frying pan into th fire. Let us not take any hasty decision to repent at leisure.
( A letter sent to TOI on July 13,2008
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