N-power must for energy security, says R Chidambaram

India has no choice but to depend on nuclear energy for energy security, said R Chidambaram, principal scientific advisor to the Indian government, on Monday. HT reports.

India has no choice but to depend on nuclear energy for energy security, said R Chidambaram, principal scientific advisor to the Indian government, on Monday.

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“For a long time to come, conventional nuclear energy is going to be necessary to reach energy security and curb climate change,” he said speaking at the inauguration of an international conference on high pressure science and technology.

The five-day conference organised by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) started on Monday and will host 350 delegates from 22 countries. The conference will discuss areas such as static and dynamic high pressure studies, superconductivity, planetary sciences, biosciences and synthesis of new materials.

Even as the scientific community is working on a breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology, Chidambaram said India would have to depend on nuclear fission technology for a long time.

“The scientific community is looking for a break-even by integrating high pressure physics, technology and high energy density physics for the fusion energy experiments such as in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in France and laser-induced fusion energy research in the US.”