Nuclear Power in India

Originally published in 1983. The Indian nuclear power programme, both the earliest in the Third World and also one of the most comprehensive, is an important and instructive subject for a wide-ranging and detailed study. This book examines the origins and rationale of the Indian programme in the context of energy resources and consumption. It traces the progress of its historical development and leads up to an evaluation of its performance, in both technical and economic terms of both individual reactors and the programme as a whole. In addition, the book discusses India's nuclear explosion of 1974 and the possibilities for novel developments in nuclear power and other energy sources, such as coal, biogas, hydro and solar power. The author then sets the Indian programme into the world picture by comparing developments in India with those of the Third World (including developments in China and South Africa) and discusses the overall prospects for the Third World. This extremely informative account will appeal to readers with interest in energy, science, technology and Third World developments.

Inhalt

Introduction Part 1: Essentials of Nuclear Power 1. Technical Considerations 2. Historical Considerations Part 2: Energy and Electricity in India 3. Energy Consumption 4. Energy Resources 5. Electricity Supply Industry Part 3: A History of India's Nuclear Power Programme 6. The Rationale 7. Power Reactors 8. Uranium Mining and Exploration 9. Fuel Fabrication 10. Heavy Water Plants 11. Reprocessing Plants 12. Other Aspects of the Programme 13. India's Nuclear Explosion of 1974 Part 4: Assessment of India's Nuclear Power Programme 14. Rate of Growth Capacity 15. Financial Expenditures 16. Reactor Performance 17. Economics of Nuclear Power vs Conventional Power Part 5: Future Possibilities and Alternative Options 18. The Future for Nuclear Power 19. Alternatives to Nuclear Power Part 6: Conclusions 20. India 21. Comparison with Other Third World Programmes 22. Prospects for the Third World 23. Nuclear Power in the Third World: A Survey