Speaking at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) after addressing the founder’s day celebrations to commemorate the 98th birth anniversary of Homi Bhabha, Kakodkar said the components of the nuclear power target of over 20,000 MW by 2020, which was chalked out in the mid-1990s, consisted of 10,000 MW from pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR), 2,500 MW from fast breeder reactors (FBR) and 8,000 MW from light water reactors (LWR).

While the target of 10,000 MW from PHWRs was achievable, more power could be generated if uranium was made available. The target of 2,500 MW from FBRs was also attainable. However, for generating 8,000 MW from LWRs, work had begun on a 2,000 MW plant at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

Kakodkar said that the additional 6,000 MW from LWRs had been envisaged, even at that time, on the basis of a planned civilian nuclear deal. “If the deal opens up, this will be realised, and maybe even more power will be generated. Otherwise, a 6,000 MW shortfall will be created,” he said. Kakodkar said they would accelerate exploration and mining activities for uranium. Replying to questions, Kakodkar said though they could explore outside the country, it was a part of “international politics.” Hence, it was necessary to set international politics right. “So, it is important to open up to cooperation,” he said, pointing out that the government was pursuing both tracks — that of the domestic nuclear programme and an international nuclear deal.

With the completion of Kaiga-3, there are now 17 nuclear power reactors in operation with a total installed capacity of 4120 MW. On completion of the reactors under construction, there will be 23 reactors in operation with an installed capacity of 7,280 MW.

Earlier, addressing BARC staff and scientists, Kakodkar said that the three stage development programme was “very much on course” but the nuclear properties of thorium did not permit a “growth in power generation capacity.”

He added: “Self-reliance did not mean isolating ourselves but rather keeping several options, including the ‘do it yourself’ option, ready at hand so that the country is not subject to vulnerabilities of any kind,” he said.

“Our current challenge is to augment uranium production to match the needs of operating power reactors,” he said, pointing out that opening of new mines was a time-consuming activity. Efforts of the last 6-7 years, he said, had resulted in opening of new mines at Turamdih and Banduhurang in Jharkhand and starting of a new uranium processing mill at Turamdih.

Meanwhile, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today warned that a delay in the deal could impact prospects of such a cooperation as the critics would be “better organised” two years later. He said India must implement the deal “for its own reasons” and not “as a favour to” or “under pressure” from the US.

If the agreement is not completed during the tenure of the Bush administration, “the new administration in 2009 will negotiate a new agreement and submit it for Congress’s approval and the same steps would repeat,” Kissinger told a seminar in New Delhi. “Those opposed to the deal would be better organised two years from now,” he said.

Kissinger, who met BJP leader L K Advani yesterday, sought to emphasise that he was not here to push the deal. “Inevitably, this issue figured in our discussions. He (Advani) explained his perception of India’s necessities,” he said, adding “I did not make any particular attempt to influence.” US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, attending the Fortune Global Forum meeting, expressed optimism over operationalisation of the deal. “I am an optimist. I think good ideas automatically get done,” he said. “India is a vibrant democracy... the democratic process has to work. It (deal) is possible when India moves forward,” he said.