Contracts include long-lead items

The work on the contracts for first priority design works is in progress for setting up two additional units of 1,000 MW each at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu (Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, KKNPP-5&6 – 2X1000 MW).

The contracts will also cover first priority equipment, long-lead manufacturing cycle equipment, working documentation among others, said Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Parliament on 3 July 2019.

Also, in progress is excavation for main plant buildings and offshore structures, he said.

A General Framework Agreement (GFA) for setting up two additional units was signed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) with Atomstroyexport (ASE) of Russian Federation in June 2017.

Responding to another question in the House, he said there was no proposal under consideration at present to permit private sector in the area of nuclear power generation.

However, the private sector participates in the nuclear power sector by providing core reactor components, equipment, materials and services in areas that include construction, fabrication & erection of equipment, piping, electrical, instrumentation, consultancy, auxiliary and logistical services.

Presently, two public sector companies of the Department of Atomic Energy, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) are involved in nuclear power generation.

The Government has also amended the Atomic Energy Act to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects.

Elaborating, he said the government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of twelve nuclear power reactors – 10 indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet mode & two units of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) to be set up in cooperation with Russian Federation to enhance nuclear power capacity in the country. fiinews.com