This is an excellent interview. Prof. Kakodar's insights on topics beyond Nuclear energy is superb and as a professor of interdisciplinary energy research I find Dr. Kakodkar spot on that India' top institutions while they provide fantastic technical training in Engg or Sciences, we are a bit behind on producing more holistic and systems thinkers who can work on problems that are not just about science.
Thanks! I am not much of a news consumer but in this time of news/journalism, You're the most unbiased. You also get people that matter for discussions and interviews. I hope you keep doing it. I hope to keep doing my miniscule support.
Good one. Fortunate to have nuclear scientists like Anil Katodkar and many like him in nuclear and space technologies. 🙏🏼 I sometimes feel most of our youths are being lured to IT industry, which in a way is not good. We need engineers in other fields as well.
1. First Stage (PHWR) : we don't have much fuel in India, To expand first stage, Now India is procuring Uranium from outside by agreements with other countries. So now we can expand it how much we want. Also India is exploring Uranium Mines in other countries. As a result, India announces 16 700MW PHWR's, 100 Bharat Small Modular Reactors. 2. Second Stage (FBR): FBR runs on plutonium from PHWRs, we have to use Pu wisely, because it can be used in India's strategic weapons, and you can't get it from anywhere. The problem with FBR is that it needs lot of Pu to start, and it's doubling time is 40 years. So we have to wait for 40 years to double the inventory of Pu. Hence can't build a lot of them till now, but as our First Stage is expanding, we're getting more Pu from PHWR'S, we can build more. Also research is being done on metallic fuels with reduces its doubling time to less than half. 3. Third Stage (AHWR, MSBR) : In this stage we need self sustaining cycle of thorium, so best fuel is U233. We get it from blanket surrounding (Natural Uranium U238 to Plutonium, Thorium to U233) material placed in FBR. India will first build up Pu reserves, then go for U233. So it takes time, minimum 20yrs for 1st big reactor, and next 10 years for mass adoption if continue with the strategy planned till now. U233 can be obtained from PHWRs as well by placing Thorium in reactor. It can expedite the process, if sufficient inventory will get available. Other options India is exploring is acclerated driven systems, Thorium plutonum mixed fuel, but still in research phase. Bharar Small Modular Reactors based on PHWR with ANEEL Fuel (Mostly Thorium + 5-20% enriched Uranium) to utilize Thorium quickly but also to reduce the risk of proliferation because this fuel based on thorium cant be used to make weapons. Good for export and large scale industrial use.
1. Thanks Shekhar for a break from usual humdrum of politics and the usual nonsense. 2. Dr. Kakodkar has outlined the issues about nuclear energy clearly and in layman's terms. He is perhaps the best person Shekhar could have for this topic. 3. We are now quite clear that nuclear energy is very critical for baseload requirements even as we go green with solar, wind, hydrogen etc. 4. Dr. Kakodkar has also nicely explained about waste reprocessing and India's thorium program and its progress. But we needed more details about time lines for reaching the final stages. How far can it contribute to the nuclear power in future? 5. As regards Jaitapur site, he has an interesting suggestion of going ahead with Indian PHWRs rather than waiting for EDF to come on board. Modi Govt must take this suggestion seriously. 6. Shekhar could have asked him about how much of total possible nuclear capacity is potentially available to get a sense of how much more nuclear energy can contribute to the total energy requirement of the country (currently it is at 10%, as he said). We have 16 PHWRs getting ready adding about 10K MWs, another 20K MWs may come from international companies. But how may more new sites and expansion of existing sites are possible. This could have given us some concrete sense of the possible. Though at the end, Manasi did ask him the relevant ( and the best!) question. 7. Thanks to Manasi for asking Dr. Kakodkar about the "100 ton Gorrilla" memories !! The country will be forever grateful to him for his firm stand on India's nuclear choices!!
1. First Stage (PHWR) : we don't have much fuel in India, To expand first stage, Now India is procuring Uranium from outside by agreements with other countries. So now we can expand it how much we want. Also India is exploring Uranium Mines in other countries. As a result, India announces 16 700MW PHWR's, 100 Bharat Small Modular Reactors. 2. Second Stage (FBR): FBR runs on plutonium from PHWRs, we have to use Pu wisely, because it can be used in India's strategic weapons, and you can't get it from anywhere. The problem with FBR is that it needs lot of Pu to start, and it's doubling time is 40 years. So we have to wait for 40 years to double the inventory of Pu. Hence can't build a lot of them till now, but as our First Stage is expanding, we're getting more Pu from PHWR'S, we can build more. Also research is being done on metallic fuels with reduces its doubling time to less than half. 3. Third Stage (AHWR, MSBR) : In this stage we need self sustaining cycle of thorium, so best fuel is U233. We get it from blanket surrounding (Natural Uranium U238 to Plutonium, Thorium to U233) material placed in FBR. India will first build up Pu reserves, then go for U233. So it takes time, minimum 20yrs for 1st big reactor, and next 10 years for mass adoption if continue with the strategy planned till now.
Sir, thank you for doing this off the cuff with eminent Dr. Anil Kakodar sir. The main crux in studies is holistic approach required. I think in agriculture education should be a complete holistic education is required.
Only senior scientists can be brave and enlightened enough to say that our perspective is narrow and yours is wide. Also Mr Kakodkar pointed out the holistic nature of big forein Universities where they can have a better environment for solving real hum life problems. A great session and a wonderful use of time it was.
Hmm,.. He is a Master Class that came to know about. What a gem of visionary when it comes nuclear science n the greatest teacher. Thanks Print for this¡
In the Indian grid the cheapest power is Nuclear and Renewable ( overall) is most expensive. Hydro in many cases is cheap due to long-term contracts signed at the time of construction of dams.
More interviews with eminent professionals who make up the backbone of the country would be appreciated. They are the torchbearers that the young generation will look up to and follow
Solar per Unit production = 36 $ Nuclear production per unit = 112 $ Solar available = 4 hoursa day , 4 months a year Nuclear = available all the time Solar need storage = 136 $ of battery for KWH Nuclear doesn’t need any storage Cost to consumer of Nuclear is cheapest Thats why Nuclear is cheaper that so called cheapest source of electricity
It was very informative interview and provided great insight regarding grid management. It is great to see our scientists in media....a small break from routine politics
Nuclear energy is the need of the hour. It's clean and has no carbon footprints. At least a third of the power should come from nuclear energy. The rest from the Sun, wind and hydel power
This interview is a Thriller. From basic knowledge to research to military moves to the A bomb. My dad visited Trombay being an engineer Many times. He could have possibly interacted with Sir. Such interviews are far better than FALTU Bollywood movies.
I really love Fadke Madam's Marathi English accent She s the only one using it and really mainstreaming it. It is exactly every teacher around us used to talk/teach English.
@@aravindrt Safety and protection are equally important , we can have a shield of missiles, that too might not be enough .... but the thing is we cannot abandon our nuclear power options thinking of a future imaginary war .. since our neighbors already have nuclear warheads they just can use it anywhere at times of war so even if we abandon our nuclear power plants we are not immune to an atomic attack .
Expected questions on PFBR and it's reaching criticality. Y delay in achieving criticality. Any problem with handling liquid sodium since many countries have backed off. When is third phase of three stage will be commercialized? Any fixed timelines for these programs? Feel that these r left intentionally or didn't do the home work well.
India is world leader in thorium technology and have published most number of scientific papers in international journal and we are one of the two major countries in fast breeder reactor, but you are right they need to fast track the program coz the lead will be less with other countries.
You can make nuclear energy operate safely but you can never make it where it doesn't have a byproduct that isn't deadly for thousands of years. Until that massive problem is solved, nuclear energy is dead. Coming up with a place to bury it isn't a solution. Beside nuclear energy is terribly expensive.
Sir in this interview itself it was explained how to deal with the so called "nuclear waste" and the difference on how other countries (egs--America-- meant by "waste" coined during Jimmy Carters time) see as waste and India see as waste. in India we reprocess.. The cost factor was also explained towards the end
Coal is not a dispatch able power. Just as Nuclear, Thermal ( coal) is base load power. I feel prof Kakodkar is certainly not very aware of the grid terminology.
Only 4% compared to the global 10% so should be increased. Probably could have happened if the uneducated gangsters masquerading as "activists" didn't stall construction of various plants.
I came to know from UA-cam video that rubbing hands as many times in a day will be helpful for blood circulation ; True (or) False is a question left to medicos which I am not ;
No they haven't. Only Japan and Germany have closed their reactors. Most of Europe, canada and the US still use it. France heavily uses nuclear energy and is therefore least dependent on Russia for Energy. Funny how that worked out.
European Parliament has recently voted to include as a green energy source. Finland will be phasing out all coal and will be dependent 80% on nuclear. Poland is building new nuclear plant. So is UK, Czech Republic. Germany had announced a phase out by 2030, which they are reconsidering now. Germany is heavily dependent of coal, lignite and Russian gas, and promotes renewables in other countries, so that their companies can sell wind turbines.
The woke activisim which dictates the electoral politics there as in any democracy. Don't worry Germans would start their plants as soon as Russian gas stops or it becomes an economic burden.
Although practical realities have made every current dispensation to hold on to NE as an option to be retained. It still does not mean that for the long term it's a safely manageable technology. And that discussion is still open.
@@vijayjagtap2301 Isn’t it the same with any technology? We can do a comparative analysis of the safety of the full lifecycle of all energy sources, which means storage and backup etc also. We can find out where nuclear stands from these studies.
Imagine TWhs of nuclear plants all over the world. Its a national security risk. Enemy just has to bomb these facilities. Anyone these days can get a drone making it easier. There's also the issue of building and maintaining ever growing waste disposal areas like Yucca mountain
This is an excellent interview. Prof. Kakodar's insights on topics beyond Nuclear energy is superb and as a professor of interdisciplinary energy research I find Dr. Kakodkar spot on that India' top institutions while they provide fantastic technical training in Engg or Sciences, we are a bit behind on producing more holistic and systems thinkers who can work on problems that are not just about science.
Thanks!
I am not much of a news consumer but in this time of news/journalism, You're the most unbiased. You also get people that matter for discussions and interviews. I hope you keep doing it. I hope to keep doing my miniscule support.
Hi Mila,
Thanks for supporting our channel. We appreciate you writing in and supporting our journalism.
Gem of a man, gem of a scientist, Anil Kakodker ji 🙏🏽
Good one. Fortunate to have nuclear scientists like Anil Katodkar and many like him in nuclear and space technologies. 🙏🏼
I sometimes feel most of our youths are being lured to IT industry, which in a way is not good. We need engineers in other fields as well.
There is no dearth of qualified engineers.
1. First Stage (PHWR) : we don't have much fuel in India, To expand first stage, Now India is procuring Uranium from outside by agreements with other countries. So now we can expand it how much we want. Also India is exploring Uranium Mines in other countries. As a result, India announces 16 700MW PHWR's, 100 Bharat Small Modular Reactors.
2. Second Stage (FBR): FBR runs on plutonium from PHWRs, we have to use Pu wisely, because it can be used in India's strategic weapons, and you can't get it from anywhere. The problem with FBR is that it needs lot of Pu to start, and it's doubling time is 40 years. So we have to wait for 40 years to double the inventory of Pu. Hence can't build a lot of them till now, but as our First Stage is expanding, we're getting more Pu from PHWR'S, we can build more. Also research is being done on metallic fuels with reduces its doubling time to less than half.
3. Third Stage (AHWR, MSBR) : In this stage we need self sustaining cycle of thorium, so best fuel is U233. We get it from blanket surrounding (Natural Uranium U238 to Plutonium, Thorium to U233) material placed in FBR.
India will first build up Pu reserves, then go for U233. So it takes time, minimum 20yrs for 1st big reactor, and next 10 years for mass adoption if continue with the strategy planned till now. U233 can be obtained from PHWRs as well by placing Thorium in reactor. It can expedite the process, if sufficient inventory will get available. Other options India is exploring is acclerated driven systems, Thorium plutonum mixed fuel, but still in research phase. Bharar Small Modular Reactors based on PHWR with ANEEL Fuel (Mostly Thorium + 5-20% enriched Uranium) to utilize Thorium quickly but also to reduce the risk of proliferation because this fuel based on thorium cant be used to make weapons. Good for export and large scale industrial use.
Proud of to see scientists from my Department of atomic energy get news recognition.
As a young SO it's inspiring
1. Thanks Shekhar for a break from usual humdrum of politics and the usual nonsense. 2. Dr. Kakodkar has outlined the issues about nuclear energy clearly and in layman's terms. He is perhaps the best person Shekhar could have for this topic. 3. We are now quite clear that nuclear energy is very critical for baseload requirements even as we go green with solar, wind, hydrogen etc. 4. Dr. Kakodkar has also nicely explained about waste reprocessing and India's thorium program and its progress. But we needed more details about time lines for reaching the final stages. How far can it contribute to the nuclear power in future? 5. As regards Jaitapur site, he has an interesting suggestion of going ahead with Indian PHWRs rather than waiting for EDF to come on board. Modi Govt must take this suggestion seriously. 6. Shekhar could have asked him about how much of total possible nuclear capacity is potentially available to get a sense of how much more nuclear energy can contribute to the total energy requirement of the country (currently it is at 10%, as he said). We have 16 PHWRs getting ready adding about 10K MWs, another 20K MWs may come from international companies. But how may more new sites and expansion of existing sites are possible. This could have given us some concrete sense of the possible. Though at the end, Manasi did ask him the relevant ( and the best!) question. 7. Thanks to Manasi for asking Dr. Kakodkar about the "100 ton Gorrilla" memories !! The country will be forever grateful to him for his firm stand on India's nuclear choices!!
1. First Stage (PHWR) : we don't have much fuel in India, To expand first stage, Now India is procuring Uranium from outside by agreements with other countries. So now we can expand it how much we want. Also India is exploring Uranium Mines in other countries. As a result, India announces 16 700MW PHWR's, 100 Bharat Small Modular Reactors.
2. Second Stage (FBR): FBR runs on plutonium from PHWRs, we have to use Pu wisely, because it can be used in India's strategic weapons, and you can't get it from anywhere. The problem with FBR is that it needs lot of Pu to start, and it's doubling time is 40 years. So we have to wait for 40 years to double the inventory of Pu. Hence can't build a lot of them till now, but as our First Stage is expanding, we're getting more Pu from PHWR'S, we can build more. Also research is being done on metallic fuels with reduces its doubling time to less than half.
3. Third Stage (AHWR, MSBR) : In this stage we need self sustaining cycle of thorium, so best fuel is U233. We get it from blanket surrounding (Natural Uranium U238 to Plutonium, Thorium to U233) material placed in FBR.
India will first build up Pu reserves, then go for U233. So it takes time, minimum 20yrs for 1st big reactor, and next 10 years for mass adoption if continue with the strategy planned till now.
@@shekharkale2588 Thanks for such detailed and clear explanation
Sir, thank you for doing this off the cuff with eminent Dr. Anil Kakodar sir.
The main crux in studies is holistic approach required.
I think in agriculture education should be a complete holistic education is required.
He was chief guest of our training school convocation. A great scientist. 🙏
yes nuclear energy is among best source of energy.
Far far better than fossil fuel.
Dr Anil Kakodkar, excellent as usual
Anil Kakodkar sir ❤️
Brilliant brains from Science and Tech of India
What an insightful and enlightening interview..Keep it up The Print !!!
One of fine interview .Organise such India centric knowledge sessions more.
Wow, such a great interview. One of the best OTCs for sure.
Happy to See a Phadke joining Print. Am also Phadke...👍👍
Kya farak padata hai
Thanks!
Only senior scientists can be brave and enlightened enough to say that our perspective is narrow and yours is wide.
Also Mr Kakodkar pointed out the holistic nature of big forein Universities where they can have a better environment for solving real hum life problems.
A great session and a wonderful use of time it was.
Hmm,.. He is a Master Class that came to know about. What a gem of visionary when it comes nuclear science n the greatest teacher. Thanks Print for this¡
Hi Karri,
Thanks for tuning in and appreciating this episode of OTC.
In the Indian grid the cheapest power is Nuclear and Renewable ( overall) is most expensive. Hydro in many cases is cheap due to long-term contracts signed at the time of construction of dams.
1:12:12 Sorry I couldn't find the link to he presentation which was said to have been attched.
I wish we can have more interviews with him in the future. Very insightful and interesting. A treasure trove of knowledge.
Best #offthecuff episode. Excellent work The Print team.
Hi Santosh,
Glad for your response, thanks for tuning in.
More interviews with eminent professionals who make up the backbone of the country would be appreciated. They are the torchbearers that the young generation will look up to and follow
Wow, great episode
I love the interview, no bullshit and pure knowledge.
Solar per Unit production = 36 $
Nuclear production per unit = 112 $
Solar available = 4 hoursa day , 4 months a year
Nuclear = available all the time
Solar need storage = 136 $ of battery for KWH
Nuclear doesn’t need any storage
Cost to consumer of Nuclear is cheapest
Thats why Nuclear is cheaper that so called cheapest source of electricity
Thanks for sharing this interview.
I love this off the cuff episode.
Hi Sourabh,
Glad you liked it, keep tuning in.
Thank you Kakodkar sir.... 🙏
It was very informative interview and provided great insight regarding grid management. It is great to see our scientists in media....a small break from routine politics
Nuclear energy is the need of the hour.
It's clean and has no carbon footprints.
At least a third of the power should come from nuclear energy. The rest from the Sun, wind and hydel power
Excellent initiative where the time stamps too are provided!!
Great interview
This interview is a Thriller. From basic knowledge to research to military moves to the A bomb. My dad visited Trombay being an engineer Many times. He could have possibly interacted with Sir.
Such interviews are far better than FALTU Bollywood movies.
Thanks SG & THE PRINT for bringing this Gemstone 💎 on camera. Such a thoughtful interview, nicely asked and greatly answered. 🔥👏👌👌✅
Well done SG and Manasi, excellent episode. Really learned a lot, thanks Print you make it compelling to watch your content
Hi,
Glad you enjoyed watching this OTC. We would also like to take this moment to thank you for taking a paid membership of our channel.
@@ThePrintIndia you have a sustained supporter for your very likable and talented team and content, thanks for your great work
Please bring more such significant personalities.. loved this episode
Interesting!
Please share the presentation of Dr kakodkar
Interesting episode….really liked it
Hi Shivendu,
Glad you liked it, keep tuning in. We also thank you for being a paid member of our channel.
8:10 Sri Lanka's organic revolution which caused another kind of revolution, dark 😅
We need to install dozens of nuclear power plants ASAP
Hydro is certainly the most grid- friendly power and is rarely used as baseload except during monsoon.
True but problem is whenever there are big hydel power projects initiated people like madha patkar comes to protest and derail the project.
@theprint, Where is the presentation you mentioned?
I really love Fadke Madam's Marathi English accent She s the only one using it and really mainstreaming it.
It is exactly every teacher around us used to talk/teach English.
Thanks... Very interesting talk.
Hi Sanjiv,
Thanks for appreciating our OTC episode. We also thank you for being a paid member of our channel.
Thank you for the interview. Can you please share the presentation link mentioned in the video?
First lesson to be learnt from Nambi Narayan is for the Media and it's sensationalisation.
SG & AK are so awkward, but this is a great intiative, need a part II just on India's thorium program
Very very nice
Subhash Gogate
very informative
Did anyone ask " did we go thermonuclear in 98 " ??
#ThePrint 👍
Please add a post or reel on Instagram handle aswell. Become easy to share. Superb content 🙏🏼
One big issue is that, in times of war, the enemy might target these nuclear plants. There is a huge risk of radioactive fallout after that
We can always retaliate in same fashion
@@aravindrt Safety and protection are equally important , we can have a shield of missiles, that too might not be enough .... but the thing is we cannot abandon our nuclear power options thinking of a future imaginary war .. since our neighbors already have nuclear warheads they just can use it anywhere at times of war so even if we abandon our nuclear power plants we are not immune to an atomic attack .
Where is the link for the PPT?
Where is the presentation
Presentation ka link kaha hai?
Where is attached link in description?
Please give us a link to the presentation .. thank you..
Hi Prashanth,
We will not be able to share the link to this presentation document.
@@ThePrintIndiaNo problem . Thank you for the prompt reply.
Dr. Kakodkar has pursued master's from Nottingham university not Birmingham university
How do I share my email to get updates?
Expected questions on PFBR and it's reaching criticality. Y delay in achieving criticality. Any problem with handling liquid sodium since many countries have backed off. When is third phase of three stage will be commercialized? Any fixed timelines for these programs? Feel that these r left intentionally or didn't do the home work well.
India is world leader in thorium technology and have published most number of scientific papers in international journal and we are one of the two major countries in fast breeder reactor, but you are right they need to fast track the program coz the lead will be less with other countries.
We still have
Abdul kalams amongst our midst
Dr. Kakodkar’s name is spelt wrong in the Title and description.
Hi Sanket,
Thanks for pointing out, we have issued the correction
Presentation plz
Sir but waste irradiation will kill pathogens as well as helpful bacteria
Have you seen how they store nuclear waste in Finland ? Please go and see that and educate yourself.
Please send me the ppt, Thanks
Hi Sandeep,
We will not be able to share the link to this presentation document.
You can make nuclear energy operate safely but you can never make it where it doesn't have a byproduct that isn't deadly for thousands of years. Until that massive problem is solved, nuclear energy is dead. Coming up with a place to bury it isn't a solution. Beside nuclear energy is terribly expensive.
Sir in this interview itself it was explained how to deal with the so called "nuclear waste" and the difference on how other countries (egs--America-- meant by "waste" coined during Jimmy Carters time) see as waste and India see as waste. in India we reprocess.. The cost factor was also explained towards the end
Fine if these facilities are in Maharastra and end up polluting the Indian Ocean. One word Fukushima.
when we will see the results.... even after 70 years thers no conclusion in this research. Please ask them #ThePrintOTC
Coal is not a dispatch able power. Just as Nuclear, Thermal ( coal) is base load power. I feel prof Kakodkar is certainly not very aware of the grid terminology.
What is the percentage of Nucleus Energy in India? What are the efforts made to increase the share of Nuclear energy in India?
Only 4% compared to the global 10% so should be increased.
Probably could have happened if the uneducated gangsters masquerading as "activists" didn't stall construction of various plants.
Three mile accident.
Chernobyl.
Fukushima
Hey shekhar,no disrespect but did you notice that sir has habit of rubbing hands during speaking
No disrespect again
Just fun👍
I came to know from UA-cam video that rubbing hands as many times in a day will be helpful for blood circulation ; True (or) False is a question left to medicos which I am not ;
Kakodkar...
Comparison of Hydro with Nuclear is very unfair.
Why so?
Shekhar Gupta is not trust worhty
Why Western countries have moved away from nuclear energy?
No they haven't.
Only Japan and Germany have closed their reactors.
Most of Europe, canada and the US still use it.
France heavily uses nuclear energy and is therefore least dependent on Russia for Energy.
Funny how that worked out.
European Parliament has recently voted to include as a green energy source. Finland will be phasing out all coal and will be dependent 80% on nuclear. Poland is building new nuclear plant. So is UK, Czech Republic. Germany had announced a phase out by 2030, which they are reconsidering now. Germany is heavily dependent of coal, lignite and Russian gas, and promotes renewables in other countries, so that their companies can sell wind turbines.
The woke activisim which dictates the electoral politics there as in any democracy. Don't worry Germans would start their plants as soon as Russian gas stops or it becomes an economic burden.
Although practical realities have made every current dispensation to hold on to NE as an option to be retained. It still does not mean that for the long term it's a safely manageable technology. And that discussion is still open.
@@vijayjagtap2301 Isn’t it the same with any technology? We can do a comparative analysis of the safety of the full lifecycle of all energy sources, which means storage and backup etc also. We can find out where nuclear stands from these studies.
Imagine TWhs of nuclear plants all over the world. Its a national security risk. Enemy just has to bomb these facilities. Anyone these days can get a drone making it easier.
There's also the issue of building and maintaining ever growing waste disposal areas like Yucca mountain