Sanctioned: Rs.105,000cr for five projects

Discussions are underway with France and USA to finalise proposals for setting up large size Light Water Reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra and at Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh.

This update was given by Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to Rajya Sabha on 3 Jan 2019.

The cost of reactors will be decided on concluding techno-commercial discussions and forming project proposals. These reactors will be launched after the accord of administrative approval and financial sanction by the Government.

The USA will also be involved in the 6 X 1000 MWe Chhaya Mithi Virdi plant in Gujarat.

Likewise, Russian participation will be in the 6 X 1000 MWe plant at Haripur in West Bengal.

A 4 X 700 MWe indigenous PHWR plant is planned at Bhimpur in Madhya Pradesh.

At the other ‘In-Principle’ approved sites, the pre-project activities are at various stages, he said in an update.

Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), a Department of Atomic Energy unit, is currently constructing a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

Further, it is proposed to construct a series of twin reactors as given below.

Construction work will start on 600-MWe Fast Breeder Reactor-1 (FBR-1) in 2021 and completed in 2029. It is located at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

Work on 600 MWe FBR-2 will also start in 2021 with completion aimed for 2031 at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

Sites are yet to be selected for FBR-3 and FBR-4. But construction work is expected to start in 2025 on 600 MWe FBR-3 with completion aimed for 2033.

Construction of FBR-4, also of 600 MWe, is scheduled to start 2025 with completion by 2035.

Cost estimation will be prepared on completion of the detailed engineering of each project.

The Government has taken several measures to enable setting up of nuclear power reactors in the country.

These include:

(i) Resolution of issues related to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act & Creation of Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP).
(ii) Amendment of the Atomic Energy Act-1962 (as amended from time to time) to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects in the country.
(iii) Enabling agreements with the foreign countries for nuclear power cooperation including supply of fuel.
(iv) Identification and addressing of the issues in implementation of the projects through Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation “PRAGATI” platform.

The existing units are operating at their rated capacity. The unit size of indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) has already been increased from 220 MW to 540 MW and then to 700 MW, which are now under construction.

In addition, Light Water Reactors of 1000 MW have also been introduced with foreign cooperation, said Singh.

In total, 21 nuclear power reactors, with an installed capacity of 15700 MW are under implementation, envisaged for progressive completion by the year 2031.

The government has sanctioned Rs.105,000 crore for five projects. These are:

Gorakhpur GHAVP 3&4 2 X 700 MWe (Haryana);

Mahi-Banswara 1&2 and 3&4 2 X 700 MWe (Rajasthan);

Kaiga Kaiga 5&6 2 X 700 MWe (Karnataka);

Chutka Chutka 1&2 2 X 700 MWe (Madhya Pradesh).

Projects under construction:

Kakrapar KAPP 3&4 of 2 X 700 MWe (Gujarat);

Rawatbhata RAPP 7&8 2 X 700 MWe (Rajasthan);

Gorakhpur GHAVP 1&2 2 x 700 MWe (Haryana).

Kudankulam KKNPP 3&4 2 X 1000 (Tamil Nadu) The government has sanctioned Rs.49,621 crore for this project. fiinews.com