Nuclear Energy | Green World Investor

India’s Nuclear Energy Industry faces Numerous External and Internal Hurdles

20 Jul, 2010

India has ambitious plans for the growth of its Nuclear Energy Industry to meets its increasing Energy Demand.India’s Economy has been growing at a scorching pace over the last few years making the Energy Demand increase exponentially.Electricity Demand in India far outstrips the Supply with peak supply demand shortage in the 20% range.India’s government realizes that it needs all sources of power to meet the energy demand.India’s landmark Nuclear Deal with the United States was supposed to usher in a new age of nuclear power,however that dream is getting pushed to the backburner because of numerous external and internal hurdles.The main problems are listed below

1) China using Pakistan as a proxy to create hurdles at the Nuclear Suppliers Group

2) The Nuclear Liability Bill getting delayed in the Parliament

Call to scrap Nuclear Liability Bill – Hindu

A Public Consultation on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 on Wednesday held it unconstitutional and violative of the right to life and demanded that it be scrapped.The Bill is currently with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, which in an advertisement on June 24 had called for wider consultations to include public opinion on the Bill.

3) Environment Ministry rejecting the Nuclear Plant applications

Four new proposed nuke plants hit green hurdle -ET

Four new nuclear power plants proposed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd have hit a green roadblock with the environment and forests ministry rejecting their intial applications for statutory environmental clearances.
The NPCIL has proposed four power plants, one each at Fatehabad in Haryana (2,800mw), Mandla in Madhya Pradesh (1,400mw), Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh (6,000mw) and Bhavnagar in Gujarat (6,000mw). NPCIL intends to build these plants in three years once construction gets underway.

The Nuclear Liability Bill is stalled in the Parliament as political parties are vehemently against capping of private players liability in the case of nuclear accidents.The resolution of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case has left a bitter taste in every one’s mouth as Union Carbide escaped with almost no damages after causing the world’s biggest industrial disaster.The Environment Ministry has also rejected the applications of 4 Nuclear Power Plants as incomplete.The building of large scale power plants based on nuclear technology can take from 5-10 years in obtaining permissions,siting,building and commissioning.With such a large number of problems affecting the Nuclear Industry in India,it looks like we are going to see new nuclear plants in India after long delays if at all.

USA objects to Chinese Nuclear Reactors Sales to Pakistan

19 Jul, 2010

China,Nuclear Energy,USA

India’s Nuclear Energy Growth plans has been facing obstacles from China which is using Pakistan as a proxy.Note Pakistan is the recepient of huge aid from both China and the US.Pakistan has been historically allied with USA though Afganistan has thrown a spanner in the relationship.Pakistan considers China as it most loyal friend as both countries are bound by their common enemity with India.China’s policy has been to subtly pressure India through opposition for Security Council Seats and providing military and nuclear technology to Pakistan.

China’s sale of tow 320 MW nuclear reactors to Pakistan has raised US hackles.Pakistan has been proved to be a known nuclear proliferator supplying nuclear components and technology to countries such as North Korea.To supply more reactors would seem quite foolhardy,but for China it makes perfect sense.India’s deal with USA which removed its pariah status was a special one off case.Some countries like Australia had reservations about allowing the supply of nuclear fuel to India which has not signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.China is looking to play on such concerns by supplying these nuclear reactors to Pakistan.USA which was always concerned about Pakistani nuclear weapons falling into terrorist hands is opposing this deal.There have been rumors over the past few years that USA has control over Pakistan nuclear facilities as Taliban gains more influence in that country.

China Reactors Plan Fuels U.S. Concern – WSJ

The U.S. State Department is voicing growing concern about China’s proposed sale of two nuclear-power reactors to Pakistan, an issue that could complicate Washington’s latest efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan.These officials said the State Department has also intensified discussions with China about its proposed nuclear sale and whether it would violate Beijing’s commitments to the major international body regulating nuclear trade, the Nuclear Suppliers Group.U.S. officials remain wary of Pakistan’s history of nuclear proliferation and the potential threat the Chinese reactor sale could pose to President Barack Obama’s broader nonproliferation agenda.

U.S. and U.N. officials allege that Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan had run the world’s biggest black market in nuclear technologies before his arrest in 2004. The U.S. views Pakistan as among the world’s most-prolific producers of the nuclear fuels required for producing atomic weapons.Pakistani officials counter that the U.S. is practicing a double standard by supporting the sale of nuclear technologies to India, but not Pakistan. Islamabad has been pressing the Obama administration to support a civilian nuclear-cooperation deal for Pakistan similar to India’s, but has so far been rebuffed.

Pak nukes already under US control: Report – TOI

Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are already under American control even as analysts are working themselves into a lather on the subject, a well-regarded intelligence journal has said. In a stunning disclosure certain to stir up things in Washington’s (and in Islamabad and New Delhi’s) strategic community, the journal Stratfor reported on Monday that the “United States delivered a very clear ultimatum to Musharraf in the wake of 9/11: Unless Pakistan allowed US forces to take control of Pakistani nuclear facilities, the United States would be left with no choice but to destroy those facilities, possibly with India’s help.”

The Stratfor commentary came in response to an earlier New York Times story that reported that the Bush administration had spent around $100 million to help Pakistan safeguard its nuclear weapons, but left it unclear if Washington has a handle on the arsenal.

Nuclear Energy in India faces external obstacles from old adversaries China and Pakistan

5 Jul, 2010

China,Energy,Nuclear Energy,USA

Landmark Nuclear Deal between US and India removes India’s pariah status

The landmark Nuclear Energy deal signed between USA and India was supposed to herald the entry of India into a new Nuclear Age and remove the pariah status.India’s Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998 had led to international condemnation and nuclear sanctions as well as tit for tat nuclear tests by arch enemy Pakistan.However India’s growing economic might and huge markets had led the USA move closer to India.Under President Bush,India signed a comprehensive Nuclear Treaty with the US which would allow India to procure nuclear material and equipment from other countries.This long drawn process which would allow India to get a special exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was the crowning achievement of India-US close relations in recent times.Note India is not a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which forbids any nuclear trade with non-members of the group.However in case of India an exception had been made despite some protests by fringe countries like Australia and New Zealand.

The U.S.-India Nuclear Deal – Council of Foreign Relations

The U.S. Congress on October 1, 2008, gave final approval to an agreement facilitating nuclear cooperation between the United States and India. The deal is seen as a watershed in U.S.-India relations and introduces a new aspect to international nonproliferation efforts. First introduced in the joint statement released by President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18, 2005, the deal lifts a three-decade U.S. moratorium on nuclear trade with India. It provides U.S. assistance to India’s civilian nuclear energy program, and expands U.S.-India cooperation in energy and satellite technology. But critics in the United States say the deal fundamentally reverses half a century of U.S. nonproliferation efforts, undermines attempts to prevent states like Iran and North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons, and potentially contributes to a nuclear arms race in Asia. “It’s an unprecedented deal for India,” says Charles D. Ferguson, science and technology fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. “If you look at the three countries outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)-Israel, India, and Pakistan-this stands to be a unique deal.”

China trying to block India’s Nuclear Energy growth using Pakistan as a proxy

Pakistan which has fought more than 3 wars with India since both countries independence from British rule in 1947,regards India as an existential threat.Relations between these 2 neighbours continues to be one of the most tense in the globe with both countries armed with nuclear weapons.Unlike India,Pakistan’s Nuclear Technology has mostly been procured from outside through both legal and illegal means.Pakistan has already been convicted of being amongst the biggest proliferators of nuclear weapon technology.However this has not thwarted with Pakistan’s foremost ally and India baiter China to plan on building 2 nuclear energy reactors in Pakistan.China has always tried to checkmate India using Pakistan as a proxy by giving it weapons and technology on extremely generous terms.While Pakistan is on the verge of becoming a failed state due to increasing Talibanisation and a Basket economy,China’s gift of nuclear reactors can only have one meaning.China wants the world to question India’s special nuclear status. It is trying to checkmate the US -India deal using Pakistan as a willing puppet.Note Nuclear Energy Equipment Giants like Areva,GE-Hitachi and Toshiba-Westinghouse have been planning to invest huge amounts into India’s Nuclear sector.However these moves at the very least make them slowdown these Billion Dollar Investments if not bring them to a complete standstill.

India’s nuclear ambition runs up against China’s – Economic Times

China and Pakistan are threatening to disrupt India’s nuclear aspirations by stepping up collaboration of their own, a prospect that has raised international misgivings and revived concern about the wisdom of making a special case for India. China is now proposing to build two reactors at Pakistan’s Chashma complex, a move based on the logic that if the United States can secure a deal for India, then China should be allowed to do the same for Pakistan.

AQ Khan Pakistan’s salesman for Nuclear Weapons Proliferation – Nuclear News

Pakistan has actively, willingly and illegally supplied Nuclear Weapons to every rogue nation on Earth from North Korea in exchange of its missile technology to Libya in an apparent support of the Islamic brotherhood. Every country that has ever tried to acquire Nuclear Weapons technology illegally has found a more than willing supplier in Pakistan.

At the heart of this vast and flourishing Nuclear proliferation racket of Pakistan stands one man Abdul Qadeer Khan [aka Abdul Xerox Khan aka Photochor Khan]. A trained Metallurgist of immense disrepute, he has been the person whom the Pakistan government and Army has entrusted to peddle Pakistan’s nuclear wares anybody and everybody willing to pay for it.

China-Pakistan deal raises fears of nuclear proliferation – CS Monitor

A $2.4 billion nuclear reactor deal between China and Pakistan aimed at reducing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortage has cast light on the decades-old strategic partnership that Chinese President Hu Jintao described as “higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans.”The agreement, announced last week, would see the construction two 650-Megawatt nuclear reactors, and it reaffirms the longtime alliance between the two nations particularly as their shared rival India and the United States also deepen ties.

Nuclear Energy Investing -Toshiba plans Major Investment to catch upto Areva even as Indian,Chinese markets see setbacks

18 Jun, 2010

Areva,China,Indian Markets,Nuclear Energy

Toshiba aims to Double Nuclear Exports in next 5 years

Toshiba the No.2 players in the Nuclear Equipment markets is planning a major investment to double its sales of nuclear reactors to overseas markets.Areva,Toshiba-Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi are the Three Major Companies in the Global Nuclear Energy Equipment Market.GE-Hitachi is trailing in marketshare due to a lack of technology and poor focus leaving the fight for market leadership to Toshiba and Areva.Toshiba plans to invest $550 million a year to increase its Nuclear Equipment sales from $4 billion a year to $8 Billion a year by 2015 to markets such as US,India and China.The Nuclear Energy market is seeing a Renaissance with increasing Energy Demand driving both China and India to set up ambitious growth plans in this sector.Toshiba plans to supply an integrated offering of Nuclear Fuel as well as Reactors to better compete with Areva.

Toshiba Plans to Double Overseas Nuclear Plant Sales by 2015 – Bloomberg

Toshiba Corp., Japan’s second- biggest supplier of reactors, plans to double overseas nuclear sales by 2015 and invest 50 billion yen ($550 million) a year in its power business to tap growing demand.More than seventy percent of nuclear sales should come from abroad by 2015, compared with 60 percent in the year ended March 2010, Yasuharu Igarashi, senior vice president and head of the power systems division, said in an interview in Tokyo yesterday. Toshiba’s nuclear power unit targets 700 billion yen of overseas sales by 2015 compared with about 360 billion yen in fiscal 2009, said Ken Shinjo, a company spokesman.

China’s Minor Leak and India’s Failure to Cap the Nuclear Liability Bill

However there are some clouds on the horizon with one of China’s oldest reactors located in Guangdong province near Hong Kong suffering from a minor leak raising concerns.Though the leak was reported as minor,it reminds people of the extreme hazards of Nuclear Accident like the Chernobyl Incident which has a continent wide affect.It would again strenghten the NIMBY protests by local residents.

Small leak at Chinese nuclear plant: HK govt – Nuclear Power Daily

A nuclear plant in China’s southern Guangdong province has recorded a small leak, the Hong Kong government said Tuesday, after the incident was exposed by a US-based radio station.A small rise in radioactivity was observed on May 23 in a reactor cooling unit of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station in Shenzhen, which is run by CLP Power, Hong Kong’s largest electricity supplier, the Hong Kong government said.

The report also said a large amount of radioactive iodine was released into the air. It said the plant’s management had kept the incident secret and only later reported it to authorities in Beijing.CLP disputed the report and said the leak was so minor it did not fall within an international nuclear rating or warrant immediate notification. But it added that it had reported the incident to state nuclear safety authorities.

India is also facing some push backs despite signing a comprehensive Nuclear Energy agreement with the US.This agreement removes India as a “Nuclear Pariah” and allows it to access Nuclear Reactors and Technology from major providers.However a Bill capping the Liability of Equipment providers failed to pass through the Indian Parliament.The catalyst was the Court Verdict on the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy focusing on the inadequate compensation received by the victims of the Disaster.It looks unlikely that the Bill will pass in the near future.

Nuclear liability bill not tabled in Lok Sabha – TimesofIndia

Apprehending trouble from opposition, government on Monday deferred introduction in Lok Sabha of nuclear liability bill which is a key step in operationalisation of the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal. “I have a request from the minister Prithviraj Chavan that government does not intend to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill on Monday,” Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar announced in the House. The bill was mentioned in the list of business for the day and the government’s decision sparked protests the opposition.

Ambani Detente – Reliance breaks the shackles,Plans to enter Indian Power,Telecom and Financial Services

7 Jun, 2010

Energy,Finance,Nuclear Energy,Solar Energy,Telecommunications

The detente between the Ambani brothers which lead to the rescinding of the non-compete agreement has resulted in Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) being the biggest Winner in the win-win arrangement.While on one hand Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communication which was facing a liquidity problem has benefited by being free to sell a stake in the company,Mukesh Ambani’s RIL has gained even more. RIL has been a huge cash cow generating billions of dollars in free cash flow from its Energy businesses each year.However RIL was finding it itself hamstrung by the non-compete agreement which prevented the company from entering the areas in which ADAG ( Anil Dhirubhai Group ) operated in. RIL tried its hand at overseas acquisitions but was not finding much success.However with the Ambani Brothers burying the hatchet,Reliance find its hands free to enter the virgin territories of Telecom,Power and Financial Services which will be high growth areas in India’s booming economy

Reliance has firmed up its intentions in all Three Areas through acquisitions,JVs and greenfield expansion.

Financial Services

Reliance has made its move in this sector by signalling its intention through acquisition of a small private player JM Financial Services.With the private financial companies trading at decent valuations compared to the sky high valuations during the 2007-2008 this might be a great time to make acquistions.

Mukesh Ambani may buy MF firm – LiveMint

Mukesh Ambani, who controls India’s most valuable company Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), is in talks to buy a majority stake in JM Financial Asset Management Pvt. Ltd, his first attempt to enter Anil Ambani’s territory since the estranged brothers scrapped a “non-compete” agreement between them a week ago.

Negotiations are under way for a deal that values JM Financial Asset Management, the money manager controlled by investment banker Nimesh Kampani, at around 8% of its assets under management, which equals Rs685 crore, said two officials close to the development who didn’t want to be named.

Power

Reliance is making forays into Power starved Indian Market by planning to set up Thermal ,Solar and Nuclear Energy Plants.With its superb project executions skills and rock solid Balance Sheet , Reliance is ideally situated to become a dominant player in this space

Reliance may foray into nuclear energy – report – Reuters

Petrochemicals-to-gas conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd is looking to enter nuclear energy, the Economic Times reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.The energy major is believed to be in talks with Bechtel, the largest U.S. engineering firm, for a possible collaboration, the newspaper said.”RIL has indicated to the government that it is keen on generation and distribution of nuclear power,” it quoted an unnamed senior government official as saying, adding the plans are at a preliminary stage.

RIL may enter thermal power sector – Energy Business

For RIL power sector is not new as it is already supplying power to Jamngar refinery, Hazira petrochemical complex and Jamngar city through 800 Mw captive power plant, and said sources close to the family.
The company might enter in to the bidding process during next round of UMPPs are offered by the government. However it is unlikely that, RIL will enter in to telecom or financial service sector as RIL are a B2B company and not B2C company

Telecommunications

Reliance Industries had brought a revolution in the Indian Telecom space by introducing the “Monsoon Hungama” scheme which allowed poor Indians to go mobile at a startlingly low cost of $11 ( Rs 500) . This arm was hived off as Reliance Communications under the separation agreement between the two Ambani brothers.Now Reliance sees an opportunity to return to Telecom through the new wave of investments in 3G.

RIL to offer 3G, WiMAX devices – Financial Express

Five years after its exit from the country’s booming telecom sector, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is plotting the road map for a return trip. However, this time around, it won’t be plain vanilla telecom services that RIL will be interested in, but rather the emerging segments of 3G and WiMAX. According to executives familiar with the development, the initial strategy is not to enter as a telecom operator, though this cannot be ruled out in the long run.

Nuclear Energy Market – Hitachi-GE failing to keep up with Market Leaders Areva and Toshiba

1 Jun, 2010

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy Reactor Market – Main Players

The Nuclear Energy Equipment market which is supposed to grow to a Trillion Dollar Market by 2030 is dominated by Three Companies/Joint Ventures.French Energy Giant Areva,Toshiba-Westinghouse and General Electric-Hitachi are the three Combines ruling over the Nuclear Energy Reactor Market currently.There are also two smaller players Russia’s ZAO Atomstroyexport and Korea Electric Power Corp.Toshiba has been an aggressive player in this market buying US based Westinghouse in a Billion Dollar deal earlier.General Electric and Hitachi also entered into a JV to market nuclear reactors in USA and Japan their respective home markets. However it has been Areva which has carved out a leading position in the Nuclear Energy Reactor Market.

Areva Carving a Leading Position in Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy growth has stalled in the Developed World after the Chernobyl and the 3 Mile Long Island disasters.Concerns over nuclear waste and potential disasters has made constructing a Nuclear Power plant almost an impossible job in the Developed countries of North America and Europe.China and India are the two most promising markets as both countries aiming to install almost 2-3 GW of nuclear capacity each year.Areva has managed to clinch deals in both of these markets followed closely by the Toshiba-Westinghouse combine.The Hitachi-GE JV has lagged both of its competitors by a big margin in both of these critical markets.Hitachi is trying to resurrect its nuclear division by restructuring its JV with GE but its outdated BWR technology has made it a difficult task.

Areva wins India nuclear deal worth at least $10 bln – Reuters

France’s Areva claimed a first victory in the race to grab a share of India’s lucrative nuclear market with the signing of a multi-billion dollar agreement to build up to six atomic reactors.The agreement, signed after India consented on Monday to opening up its civilian nuclear plants to U.N. inspections, strengthens Areva’s global nuclear reactor leadership over rivals such as Toshiba’s Westinghouse Electric Co.Areva, a state-controlled company, signed a memorandum of understanding with Nuclear Power Corp of India on Wednesday to build at least two Evolutionary Power Reactors (EPRs) in a deal worth more than 8 billion euros ($10.4 billion).

Areva’s European Wins Lift Chances in $1 Trillion Global Tussle – Bloomberg

Areva SA, the largest builder of nuclear plants, is seeking to use a lead in its home European market over Toshiba Corp.’s Westinghouse Electric Co. to gain an edge in the $1.05 trillion of global contracts up for grabs.Areva’s new model, the evolutionary power reactor, or EPR, has been chosen for at least 11 of the 41 new plants planned or under construction in the European Union. Westinghouse, which is pushing its AP1000 pressurized water reactor, hasn’t built a plant in the region for more than 20 years.

As many as 180 reactors may be completed in the next eight years in countries from China to Brazil, according to the World Nuclear Association, while a further 282 have been proposed. Areva and Westinghouse face rivals such as General Electric Co.’s venture with Hitachi Ltd., Russia’s ZAO Atomstroyexport and Korea Electric Power Corp. in bidding for contracts.

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