nuclear-news

Russia giving up on plan for nuclear plant in Haripur, India

Russia wants West Bengal nuclear plant relocated, Sachin Parashar, TNN | Sep 9, 2011,Times of India NEW DELHI: The government is looking at allotting another site for nuclear reactor to Russia in place of Haripur in West Bengal, a location marred by controversy. Confirming that the Russians have officially sought another site, government sources indicated a new site could be allotted soon.

The Mamta Banerjee-led government in the state announced last month that it was going to scrap the project,  but it did not prevent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from making a
strong case for nuclear energy when he visited Kolkata later.

“There is no decision yet but we are looking at the request from the Russians. We can allot another site to them,” said a senior government source. The Russians have been expressing concern about protests in Haripur since last year, but the government was still hopeful of a way out. With Mamata’s regime not relenting, the Centre has been forced to think of other alternative sites.

West Bengal power minister said in the assembly last month that the government would not allow any nuclear power plant to be set up in the state. Russia’s state-owned nuclear power equipment and service giant Rosatom had asked the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to consider allotting it another site for the plant. ……

 Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko had earlier said that a total of 12 nuclear power units were to be built at Kudankulam and Haripur. Haripur was said to be an important part of the Centre’s plans for achieving its target of generating 30,000MW of nuclear power by 2030.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Russia-wants-West-Bengal-nuclear-plant-relocated/articleshow/9917196.cms

September 9, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics