Second unit all set to attain criticality

The first approach to criticality in the second unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant near here started at 7.52 PM today, KKNPP site director R S Sundar said.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board had already given its nod to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy that operates the plant, to go ahead with the criticality process.
The reactor would attain criticality gradually during the next 48 hours, KKNPP sources said.
Unit 1 and 2 of the KKNPP VVER reactors are being built with the collaboration with Russia. Each reactor has the capacity to generate 1000 MW of electricity.

Advocating a two-pronged strategy, Jaishankar said the
first is to clamp down on terrorism in general and the second to restrict unauthorised access to nuclear technology and material.

"Responsible States provide political commitments to assure each other that they will protect nuclear material under their control from falling into the wrong hands...
"However, political commitments alone cannot ensure the safety and security of nuclear material," the foreign secretary said while referring to several treaty instruments which provide a firm basis for translating broader political commitments into legally binding measures.
The treaties include the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment, he said.

Talking about history of nuclear technology, he said, "The power of the atom is wondrous. It has benefited mankind in myriad ways. The scientific community has played a vital role in harnessing nuclear energy and radiological sources for societal needs. The ancient Indian philosopher and sage, Kanada, propounded the concept of 'atom' in the sixth century.
"Today, two-and-a-half millennia later, as a country possessing advanced nuclear technologies, India is at the forefront in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We have actively associated with and contributed to the IAEA and other multilateral forums dealing with all aspects of nuclear material."

Talking about international obligations adhered to by India, he said every year at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, India co-sponsors a resolution on "measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction" that has been adopted by consensus since 2002.
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Stressing that Indian experts have contributed positively and substantively to the drafting of various documents and playbooks of the GICNT, Jaishankar said India remains committed to furthering the objectives of the global initiative.
"We have been contributing to the Nuclear Security Fund of the IAEA. India's Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) is available to interested States for training courses and capacity building programmes in the field of nuclear and radiological security," he said.

Observing that there are 13 instruments that are widely accepted as benchmarks for a State's commitment to combat terrorism, Jaishankar said, "What is more important is that adhering parties display the required sincerity to implement their commitment.
"The existence of a number of conventions and treaties dealing with nuclear terrorism underscores the fact that there is no one instrument that can deal with this issue in a holistic manner.
"The march of globalisation means that combating nuclear terrorism in isolation or as part of a small group is unlikely to yield the desired results," he said, adding in this the GICNT plays an important role as it works towards building worldwide communities of experts and practitioners in order to have a consistent and coherent approach towards the issue of nuclear terrorism.

He further said given its impressive membership of 86 partner countries and five international organisations, the GICNT is expected to play an important role in providing an effective international platform for consolidating and disseminating the technical expertise and best practices to respond to malicious acts by terrorists.
The Implementation and Assessment Group (IAG) and the other working groups of the GICNT, namely, Nuclear Detection Working Group (NDWG), Response and Mitigation Working Group (RMWG) and Nuclear and Forensics Working Group (NFWG) have established themselves as the drivers for taking forward the important work of the Global Initiative, Jaishankar said.
The membership of these groups represent the entire spectrum of relevant stakeholders -- the scientific community, law enforcement agencies, first responders to nuclear security events, prosecutors and the judicial fraternity and of course, key decision-makers from the diplomatic community, he said.

He also hoped the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which was proposed by India in 1996, would be adopted soon.