India making remarkable progress in nuclear tech: IAEA chief

India was making remarkable advancements in nuclear technology and a very important partner of International Atomic Energy Agency, the global nuclear watchdog's Director General Yukiya Amano said today.
"For mass generation of electricity, nuclear energy is important. It paves the way for economic advancement. India is making remarkable advancements in nuclear technology," he told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in the district.
He also said in Nuclear science, India was a very important partner of the IAEA.
Amano said that while providing safe nuclear energy, transparency and communication were very important aspects.

After Fukushima accident in Japan, a lot had been learnt and safety aspects were revisited. After going through the new rules, fifteen power plants were restarted. Nine nuclear power plants were now under construction, he said.
"In the case of KKNPP, it has incorporated best safety measures and design aspects... The passive cooling system, core catcher, natural cooling system and diesel generator are among the five safety aspects included," the IAEA chief said.

Highlighting the importance of atomic energy, he said it a was very important one in mitigating the concern of climate change as there was no emission of greenhouse gases in generating nuclear power.

Nuclear technology was also very useful in agriculture, food safety and Information Technology, he said.
Worldwide, a total of 449 nuclear power plants were operational and another 60 under construction, he said.