Eminent nuclear scientist and Member of Atomic Energy Commission Dr. M.R. Srinivasan today said that India has no alternative but to develop uranium based nuclear reactors to meet ever increasing energy demand of the country.

He said that Thorium based energy will not be possible before 2030. He observed that neither solar, wind nor LNG options are available with India to meet the demand and at a reasonable price.

In an exclusive interview to All India Radio he said that Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is fully safe with a third generation plus security architecture.

Mr. Srinivasan said that the cost of energy generated at Kudankulam will be less than three rupees per kilowatt.

In reply to a query on international reaction post Fukushima situation, he said that China has 25 units of nuclear plants of 1000 megawatt each and they have decided to continue with the production.

Allying the fears that an earthquake like situation can bring a big hazard at the nuclear plant site, the eminent scientist said that at Fukushima the earthquake happened at 9 on Richter scale followed by tsunami but if any quake comes at Kudankulam it will not be more than 6 on the Richter scale as per the scientific assessment.

He asserted that this makes Kudankulam one billion times safer than Fukushima.