CHENNAI: Is India likely to face a shortage of specialists who can operate nuclear power stations? Yes says vice consul of Consulate General of Russia Michael J Gorbatov while stressing the need for student exchange programme to help Indian students learn nuclear physics in Russian universities so that in the future Indian won’t face shortage of specialists who can operate nuclear plants.
Speaking to reporters at Anna University here following a lecture by Russian Nuclear Corporation for the students of Anna University, Institute of Energy Studies, Gorbatov, while refusing to give any specific details of nuclear cooperation agreements signed between Russia and India following President Vladimir Putin’s visit, said Russia may go in for an agreement for student exchange programme and the onus lies on India to send students to study nuclear physics.
He said Russian universities are the best when compared to imparting education on nuclear physics but most of the students are pursuing medicine and other fields while ignoring Russia’s expertise on nuclear energy.
“Now it depends on Indian government on how they will encourage students to pursue nuclear science as India is likely to face shortage of students who can operate nuclear power stations,” he said.
Oleg Tashlykov, doctor of engineering science and leading professor and reader from Russian Federal University Nuclear Energy Department,
highlighted how Russian expertise developing nuclear plant in Vietnam resulted in Vietnam sending students to study nuclear physics in its university in Tomsk.
Tashlykov also said that Russia is working with China to develop six floating nuclear power plants (NPPs). This cmes after a memorandum of understanding has been signed with China on the development of floating NPPs from 2019. He said currently Russia is working on
developing two floating nuclear reactors. “We are also planning to sell it to other countries, including middle east nations,” he said.
He said the floating NPPs can provide a reliable power supply not only to remote settlements but also to large industrial facilities such as oil platforms.