Saturday, March 12, 2011

LESSONS FROM JAPANESE TRAGEDY

B.RAMAN

Our hearts go out to the people of Japan at this hour of their national tragedy which is a global tragedy.It has deeply affected all of us.The world has seen massive tragedies of a traumatic nature in the past, but what the Japanese have suffered is a series of multiple tragedies---quake, tsunami and dangers of nuclear contamination following an explosion in a building housing a reactor of a nuclear power station at Fukushima.

2 To quote from a BBC report on the subject: "An estimated 170,000 people have been evacuated from the area around a quake-damaged nuclear power station in north-east Japan that was hit by an explosion, the UN atomic watchdog says. A building housing a reactor was destroyed in Saturday's blast at the Fukushima No.1 plant. The authorities said the reactor itself was intact inside its steel container. The Japanese government has sought to play down fears of a meltdown at Fukushima No.1, saying that radiation levels around the stricken plant have now fallen."

3. In a separate commentary, the BBC's Environment correspondent has said: "'The term "meltdown" raises associations with two nuclear accidents in living memory: Three Mile Island in the US in 1979, and Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986. In both, excess heat in the reactor caused fuel to melt - and in the first, wider melting of the core. The question is whether the same thing has happened in Fukushima. It appears that the reactor was shut down well before any melting occurred, which should reduce considerably the risk of radioactive materials entering the environment. However, the detection of caesium isotopes outside the power station buildings could imply that the core has been exposed to the air. Although Japan has a long and largely successful nuclear power programme, officials have been less than honest about some incidents in the past, meaning that official reassurances are unlikely to convince everyone this time round. "

4. France and Japan have high reliance on nuclear power. The design and construction of nuclear power stations in Japan have always taken into account likely dangers from quakes and tremors. People, who raised questions of safety, had always been assured by the Japanese experts that there would be no dangers of an explosion or radio active leakage in case of natural disasters.

5. Their confidence in the safety of their nuclear power stations is likely to be shaken as a result of this explosion. Public opposition to the reliance on nuclear power stations could increase as a result of the explosion----particularly in Japan itself, China and even India.

6. Our conventional wisdom and assumptions regarding nuclear safety during natural and man-made disasters need to be reviewed urgently in the wake of the Japanese explosion. We can no longer be complacent thinking that everything that needs to be done to assure nuclear safety has been done and that there is nothing to worry about.

7. The Fukushima blast should not be exploited to undermine our confidence in the importance of nuclear power. At the same time, it is important to question our confidence in the adequacy of the safety measures taken till now.

8. Fukushima was the result of a natural disaster. How about the dangers of a man-caused disaster---such as some suicide terrorists forcing their way into a nuclear power station and trying to blow it up. I had in the past raised this issue in many seminars and at meetings of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the Special Task Force for the Revamping of the Intelligence Apparatus, when I was a member of both in 2000-02. The stock answer I used to get was that our nuclear experts were aware of this danger and had taken necessary precautions. I could understand their reluctance to spell out these precautions, but it is important to revisit them urgently.

9. The Fukushima explosion should be of great concern to the whole world----not just to the Japanese people. Over-confidence in our security measures will be suicidal for the world. (13-3-11)

( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: seventyone2@gmail.com )

9 comments:

bookz said...

Mr. Raman,


"5. Their confidence in the safety of their nuclear power stations is likely to be shaken as a result of this explosion."

It is a simple hydrogen explosion. It has nothing to do with nuclear reaction. Steam separated into H and O and the H exploded. By the way, the oil refineries are still burning and causing massive fires.

"6. Our conventional wisdom and assumptions regarding nuclear safety during natural and man-made disasters need to be reviewed urgently in the wake of the Japanese explosion. "

Nothing untoward has happened except that a failsafe failed. The ultimate failsafe against meltdown is the thick steel container, which will not be breached, no matter what.
Cooling in modern reactors is generally better than the Fukushima one. Instead of an active coolant pump, a passive system is used.


"7. The Fukushima blast should not be exploited to undermine our confidence in the importance of nuclear power. At the same time, it is important to question our confidence in the adequacy of the safety measures taken till now."

It WILL be exploited, that much is guaranteed.

"8. Fukushima was the result of a natural disaster. How about the dangers of a man-caused disaster---such as some suicide terrorists forcing their way into a nuclear power station and trying to blow it up. "

Don't expect anyone to take you seriously about blowing up a nuclear reactor. There is nothing to blow up. The worst terrorists can do is stop electricity generation for some time.

"9. The Fukushima explosion should be of great concern to the whole world-"
If it does not cause fatalities, will you take back your words?

nri2008 said...

Dear Ramanji

Opposition to nuclear plants in Maharashtra has been crushed harshly in Jaitapur Maharashtra off Konkan coast. The area is rich in agriculture and for fishing. A rational debate has not been allowed by ruling Congress-NCP coalition. Does habing nuclear plants in fertile and heavily populated areas make sense in view of Japanese experience?

When 26/11 could not be averted or Pak sponsired terrorists not punished till now what guarantee is there of Inddan atomic plants will not be subjected to missile attacks or terrorist attacks?

Uptill now PM SIngh and his Government have been running nuclear policy in secrecy and for benefit of foreign nuke suppliers with eye on making il gpotten gains? How can after 2G and CWG scams Indians have confidence nuclear reactors are built in national interest and not in Congress coalition's self interests only?

Transparency and public confidence is MUST and no INdian Govt should be allowed blanket powers in name of national ointerest you will surely agree?

Regards

Ram
Singapore

bookz said...

NRI2008,
Have you ever visited a nuclear power plant?
Have you ever visited a coal power plant?

nri2008 said...

Hi Bookz,

Are you a nuclear scientist or expert?I am an engineer and have on Kudankulam project in 1990s.

It is inappropriate to even comment on your knowledge of nuclear technology which is naive and simplistic to say the least!

I have commented on impact of locating nuclear plant in populated areas and expertise of INdian nuclear industry does not inspire confidence at all.

Terorising and coercing people by Maharashtra Govt into submission is against all norms and we know HOW ADARSH Congress-NCP Govt is!!!

Ram

Esoteric said...

In 2004 Tsunami, the Chennai nuclear plant was severly damaged.Some conspiracy theorists even contended that it was the target of the Tsunami created by an underground Nuclear explosion of some sort by the US..or test of HARP or something..ofcourse all that cannot be believed even though spate of Huge quakes has increased in last five years....anyhow..Indian reactors are very vulnerable...all precautions should be taken urgently.

bookz said...

Earthquakes haven't increased. Reporting, world population(number of victims) and fear mongering has. Until 10 years ago, nobody would care what happened to Haiti. Now your TV set gets bombarded with scary images from all sorts of places thousands of miles away.

gs said...

I don't think we can do away with the nuclear option. But we have to revisit and revamp safety features in our nuclear plants present and future. Instead of panicking we should plan for any eventuality natural or man made. I work in a nuclear plant in north America which is surrounded by farms and commercial fishing, with no issues. The selection of the location is critical. I am not here to comment on Maharashtra govt's handling of protesters but nuclear plants and farming can coexist as long as you run the plant by the book.

ambi said...

....I am not here to comment on Maharashtra govt's handling of protesters but nuclear plants and farming can coexist as long as you run the plant by the book.

-gs

Thats why Indians are concerned gs ji. who ll see to it that govt & admn ll run the plant by the book? Remember Bhopal?

nri2008 said...

Dear Ramanji

Please see latest news on Jaiotapur,Maharashtra proposed site of nuclear plant. Reports in Indian media suggest State Government has repressed protests of local people harshly.

In view of Fukushima tragedy as also opposition in America and Europe gathering strength Indians should not be guinea pig for America as no new nuclear plant has been built n American mainland for 4 decades.

I am sure you agree nucklear power is essential for INdian growth but heavily populated areas and earthquake areas should be Strictly avoided for People 's Safet.

Warm Regards

Ram

20 years, 92 quakes: Ground trembles beneath Jaitapur's feet

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/20-years-92-quakes-Ground-trembles-beneath-Jaitapurs-feet/articleshow/7714776.cms