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 8th 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.
Department of Atomic Energy of 2016
Reviewed by Ajit Kumar
on
6:07 PM
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