Fukushima-like accident can be avoided at Kudankulam:A P J Abdul Kalam

NEW DELHI: Highlighting the safety features of the Kudankulam nuclear plant, former President A P J Abdul Kalam today said even a Fukushima-like accident can be avoided in the coastal project in Tamil Nadu.

"Kudankulam plant has installed 154 Hydrogen recombiners across the plant which can absorb any leaked hydrogen and prevent any structural damage," Kalam, who visted protest-hit nuclear power project yesterday, said addressing international nuclear scientists here.

Sharing his experiences from yesterday's visit, he said Kudankulam plant plans to have a separate control unit for each of the reactors, to prevent cascading effect of reactor instability.

In the case of Fukushima, one of the primary reasons for structural collapse was the explosion in the hydrogen which got out of control due to heat generated by the failure of providing continuous power supply to the spent fuel complex, he said.

Kalam was making the inaugural address at the 21st International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology ( SMiRT-21) here.

On Germany's decision to give up nuclear power by 2022, Kalam said it was a power surplus developed nation which could afford to lose a few plants.

"More importantly, Germany has completely exhausted its nuclear resources. Thus, nuclear energy never fits into their goal of energy independence," Kalam said.

Making a case for pursuing nuclear energy, he said India was a leader of the new resource of nuclear fuel -- Thorium -- which is considered as a fuel of the future.