Nuclear Power Generation in Republic of India

[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
16-March, 2017 16:32 IST
Plans to Increase Generation of Atomic Energy


The share of nuclear power was about 3.2% in India in the year 2016-17 (up to Feb-2017). During this period, about 34136 Million Units (MUs) of electricity was produced from Nuclear Power Plants against a total of about 1052160 MUs produced in India [Source: Central Electricity Authority (CEA), All India Summary, Issue Date-March 02, 2017]. The share of nuclear power is country-specific and depends on other sources of electricity generation deployed in the country.

The share of nuclear power in total electricity generation is planned to be progressively increased by addition of nuclear power capacity for which a large expansion programme based on both indigenous technologies and with foreign technical cooperation is planned. In this regard, the Government has taken several enabling steps which include according of “In principle” approval of sites for locating future nuclear reactors based both on indigenous technologies and with foreign technical cooperation; entering into enabling agreements with foreign countries for nuclear cooperation including supply of fuel; amendment of the Atomic Energy Act to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects and creation of India Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) for resolving issues arising out of Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.


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[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
22-March, 2017 15:46 IST
Nuclear Recycle Board

The Nuclear Recycle Board was formed with the approval of the Cabinet during September 2009. Nuclear Recycle Board functions as an entity within Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for execution of projects and operation and maintenance of nuclear recycle facilities in the back end of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) fuel cycle. The Board operates under the purview of BARC Safety Council.

Allocation of funds are shown hereunder:
Year 2013 – 14 : Rs 371.09 crore
Year 2014 – 15 : Rs 441.7 crore
Year 2015 – 16 : Rs 618.85 crore

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.



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[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-sets-target-to-triple-nuclear-power-generation-by-2024/

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:March 22, 2017 1:15 pm

Nuclear power generation capacity in the country is expected to reach nearly 15,000 MW by 2024 as the government has expedited the process of setting up new plants, Lok Sabha was informed today. In 2014, India’s nuclear power generation capacity was 4,780 MW.

Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh said a number of steps have been taken by the Narendra Modi government to fast-track all ongoing nuclear projects and setting up of new plants in different parts of the country.

“When we came to power in 2014, we had set a target of generating nuclear power by three time in 10 years and we hope to reach that target,” he said during Question Hour.

The Minister, however, said for generating targeted nuclear power, there has to be enough uranium available – both from domestic as well as foreign sources.

Singh said the government was actively pursuing the process of acquiring uranium from different sources, including exploration in new places like Bihar and Meghalaya.


He said for the first time, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India has been allowed to go for setting up of joint venture nuclear plants along with Public Sector Undertakings.

The Minister said the third stage of India’s nuclear power programme contemplates using thorium along with uranium-233 as fuel in thorium-based reactors.

With sustained efforts of years, India has gained experience over the entire thorium fuel cycle on a semi-industrial scale, he said.

“The developmental activities include studies in thorium extraction, fuel fabrication and irradiation, reprocessing studies including construction of an engineering-scale power reactor, thorium reprocessing facility and setting up of uranium-233 fuelled Purnima and KAMINI research reactors,” he said.

Singh said the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and research organisations attached with DAE are engaged in various R&D activities to address the utilisation of thorium in different types of reactors, including efforts aimed at enlarging the existing thorium cycle experience to a bigger scale.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
23-March, 2017 16:09 IST
Target of tripling Nuclear Power Capacity

The Government, in July 2014, had announced tripling of the then existing capacity of 4780 MW in the next ten years. With the commencement of commercial operation of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), Unit-1 (1000 MW) in December 2014, the installed nuclear power capacity in the country has reached 5780 MW. In addition, KKNPP, Unit-2 (1000 MW) has been connected to the grid for the first time in August-2016 and is presently generating infirm power. On commencement of commercial operation of KKNPP-2, the installed nuclear power capacity in the country will reach to 6780 MW.

Further, four reactors with a total capacity of 2800 MW are under construction and four more reactors with a total capacity of 3400 MW have been accorded sanction by the Government. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), a public sector company under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is building one 500 MWe capacity Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. PFBR is expected to be functional by October 2017. On progressive completion of these projects, the installed nuclear capacity will reach 13480 MW. More reactors based on both indigenous technologies and with foreign technical cooperation are also planned in future.

The present share of nuclear energy in the country is about 3.2% in the current financial year 2016-17 (up to Feb-2017).

The nuclear power plants in the country are presently operating close to their rated capacity.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Department of Atomic Energy
23-March, 2017 16:05 IST
Commissioning of Nuclear Reactors

The current installed nuclear power capacity in the country comprises of 21 reactors with a total capacity of 5780 MW. One more reactor, KKNPP-2 (1000 MW) is presently generating infirm (non-commercial) power and commencement of its commercial operation will take the nuclear installed capacity to 6780 MW. The details of their location, date of start of commercial operation and capacity are as below:



State
Location
Units
Capacity (MW)
Date of Commercial Operation

Maharashtra

Tarapur
TAPS-1
160
28-Oct-1969

TAPS-2
160
28-Oct-1969

TAPS-3
540
18-Aug-2006

TAPS-4
540
12-Sep-2005

Rajasthan

Rawatbhata
RAPS-1*
100
16-Dec-1973

RAPS-2
200
01-Apr-1981

RAPP-3
220
01-Jun-2000

RAPS-4
220
23-Dec-2000

RAPS-5
220
04-Feb-2010

RAPS-6
220
31-Mar-2010

Tamil Nadu

Kalpakkam
MAPS-1
220
27-Jan-1984

MAPS-2
220
21-Mar-1986

Kudankulam

KKNPP-1
1000
31-Dec-2014

KKNPP-2**
1000

**

Uttar Pradesh

Narora
NAPS-1
220
01-Jan-1991

NAPS-2
220
01-Jul-1992

Gujarat

Kakrapar
KAPS-1#
220
06-May-1993

KAPS-2#
220
01-Sep-1995

Karnataka

Kaiga
KGS-1
220
16-Nov-2000

KGS-2
220
16-Mar-2000

KGS-3
220
06-May-2007

KGS-4
220
20-Jan-2011



* Under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment for continued operation.

** Presently, generating infirm (non-commercial) power and is expected to be in commercial operation soon.


#Presently, the units are under long shutdown for Enmasse Coolant Channel Replacement (EMCCR) and Enmasse Feeder Replacement (EMFR)


In the current financial year 2016-17 (upto February 2017), the electricity generation from nuclear power on commercial basis was 34136 Million Units. In addition, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), Unit-2 has generated 2086 Million Units of infirm power (non-commercial) during this period. Thus, 36223 Million Units of electricity has been generated from nuclear power as against 903694 Million Units from fossil fuel sources (source: CEA), which is about 4% of the energy generated from fossil fuel in the current financial year 2016-17 (up to Feb-2017).


This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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KSD/NK/PK

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
05-April, 2017 17:02 IST
Expansion of Nuclear Programme

The MoS (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh met with Australian Minister for Resources on March 8, 2017 in New Delhi during which both sides had general exchange of views regarding promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation between India and Australia in the field of civil nuclear energy.

Uranium Corporation of India Ltd., a Public Sector Undertaking under Department of Atomic Energy is engaged in mining and processing of uranium ore in the country. The company is currently operating seven uranium mines (Bagjata, Jaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih, Banduhurang and Mohuldih) and two processing plants (Jaduguda plant and Turamdih plant) in the state of Jharkhand.

Construction of mine and plant has been started at Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh. UCIL has outlined a plan for massive expansion which includes plan to maintain sustained supply from existing facilities, capacity expansion of some existing units and construction of new production centers (mines and plants) in different parts of the country. Considering the resources already identified in different geological basins by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), UCIL’s major production centers are planned in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan and Meghalaya.

The details of sites accorded “in-principle” approval for setting up nuclear power plants in the northern and eastern region are as follows:

Location & State
Capacity (MW)


Northern Region
Gorakhpur, Haryana
4 x 700
Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan
4 x 700


Eastern Region
Haripur, West Bengal
6 x 1000

There is presently no proposal to set up nuclear power plants in the North Eastern region. The region falls in Seismic Zone V as per IS 1893. As per the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) code on Site Evaluation of Nuclear Facilities, Nuclear Power plants are not set up in Seismic Zone V.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Department of Atomic Energy
05-April, 2017 17:02 IST
Dr. Barooah Cancer Institute

A proposal for taking over of Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati under the management of Tata Memorial Centre (an aided institution of Department of Atomic Energy) has been approved by the Atomic Energy Commission and a Note has been submitted on 03.03.2017 to Cabinet Secretariat for approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.


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[Hindustani78]

epartment of Atomic Energy
06-April, 2017 16:13 IST
JVs with PSUs for Nuclear Power Generation


Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) of the Department of Atomic Energy has entered into Joint Ventures with some of the PSUs for setting up nuclear power projects.


The details of the Joint Ventures are as follows:

JV Name
Incorporated on
JV Partner
Shareholding Ratio (NPCIL : JV Partner)

Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Limited
27.01.2011
NTPC Limited
51 : 49

NPCIL - Indian Oil Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited
06.04.2011
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
74 : 26

NPCIL – NALCO Power Company Limited
02.03.2012
National Aluminum Company
74 : 26

A well established system of information security is in place in Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in line with the policies and guidelines issued by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), comprising of both administrative measures and technical control systems. The systems are periodically reviewed both internally and by external teams comprising of members from other units of DAE for effecting improvements. Detailed procedure for control of confidential information is also in place.


This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Department of Atomic Energy
06-April, 2017 16:11 IST
Target for Generation of Nuclear Energy by 2017

The electricity generation from nuclear power in the last two years i.e. 2014-15 and 2015-16 was 37835 Million Units (MUs) and 37456 MUs respectively. The generation in 2014-15 comprised of 35592 MU of commercial generation and 2243 MU of infirm (non commercial) generation, while the entire generation in 2015-16 was commercial.

The targets for electricity generation from nuclear power are set on an annual basis as a part of the MoU with the administrative ministry. The MoU target for electricity generation from nuclear power for 2016-17 is 36000 MU excluding infirm (non commercial) power. Adequate quantity of fuel has been provided by the Government to meet the target. The generation in 2016-17 (upto February 2017) has been 34137 MUs (excluding infirm power). In addition, 2086 MUs of infirm (non-commercial) power has also been generated in the current year (upto February 2017).

There is no proposal for private sector participation in nuclear power generation in the country. However, private sector is involved in a big way in nuclear power sector, in supply of components & equipment, execution of large work packages and in provision of services.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
12-April, 2017 16:03 IST
Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority

In order to convert the functional independence of our national nuclear regulator, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), into de jure independence, the proposal for setting up a Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) has been under consideration. Accordingly, Government had introduced the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha in September 2011, which was subsequently referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests. The amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee were incorporated in the Bill in the year 2013. The Bill, however, could not be taken up for consideration before the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. A fresh Bill similar to the one introduced earlier, is under examination.

Government is fully conscious of the importance of the role of regulator for promotion of safe use of nuclear and radiation technology. While the process of setting up of NSRA is underway, it may be noted that as the national nuclear regulator, AERB is fully competent and geared to meet the requirements of enforcing safety standards and regulations of the functioning of nuclear power plants in the country. AERB is functionally independent from the Government and the facilities it regulates, and has adequate powers with respect to its mandate of enforcing safety regulation of nuclear and radiation facilities.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Department of Atomic Energy
12-April, 2017 16:01 IST
Portable Kit to Check Water Contamination

National Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials (NCCCM), Chemistry Group, BARC, located at Hyderabad has developed a portable visual detection kit for detection of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] between 5 to 500 ng/ml ( ppb) range in water within 5 minutes.

Chromium exists in the environment primarily in two valence states, trivalent chromium (Cr III) and hexavalent chromium (Cr VI). Cr (III) is biologically important element and needed for glucose and lipid metabolism. Cr (VI), however, is considered toxic and IARC (International Agency for Research in Cancer, WHO) has classified it as a group 1 agent, defined as carcinogenic to humans.

According to the method developed, three reagents kept inside different bottles are to be added to the clear water sample. Reagent 1 and Reagent 2 are added and mixed for two minutes. The third reagent is then added and mixed thoroughly (shaken for 1-2 minutes). Within 5 minutes, a pink color develops in the top layer and the intensity of this is compared by visual inspection to obtain the Cr(VI) range in water.

By this method Cr(VI) can be detected in drinking water sources such as ground water, lake water, river water, etc. According to Indian standard IS10500, maximum permissible limit for Cr(VI) in drinking water is 50 ng/mL and as per United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) it is 10 ng/mL and the kit meets the requirements of both the standards. The technology of this kit has been transferred to M/S LTek Systems, Nagpur for commercialization of the product for societal benefit.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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[Hindustani78]

Safety first: During the shutdown, all systems will be tested as per the regulations

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...tage-begins-at-kudankulam/article17997642.ece


The unit is likely to come on stream after the 65-day activity

The scheduled second refuelling outage of the first reactor of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) commenced on Thursday.

The 1,000 MWe VVER (water-cooled water-moderated reactor) that belongs to the pressurised water reactor category uses enriched uranium oxide fuel to generate electricity. At the end of the fuel cycle, which approximately lasts for 7,000 hours, the used fuel assemblies in the reactor are replaced with fresh fuel assemblies. For this scheduled activity, the unit was shut down on Thursday at 5.53 a.m. The first refuelling outage was done a year ago, according to S.V. Jinna, Site Director, KKNPP.

As part of the reactor cool-down process, the steam release devices will also be tested during which ambient noise level may marginally increase for few minutes.


Mandatory tests

It is one of the planned activities and part of mandatory tests as per Atomic Energy Regulatory Boar guidelines. And, the test will be carried out only during the day. The unloading of spent fuels from the reactor core and loading of fresh fuels will be carried out with the help of a fully automated machine.

Besides, maintenance of various systems and equipment will also be carried out during this outage. Subsequently, all necessary tests will be conducted and all safety systems tested as per the regulations. After fulfilling all these requirements which is likely to consume 65 days, the unit will come on stream. After the first reactor was first synchronised with the Southern Grid on October 22, 2013, it has so far generated 14,126 million units, Mr. Jinna said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet
17-May, 2017 16:28 IST
Boost to transform domestic nuclear industry

Cabinet approves construction of 10 units of India’s indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR)

In a significant decision to fast-track India’s domestic nuclear power programme, and give a push to country’s nuclear industry, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for construction of 10 units of India’s indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR). The total installed capacity of the Plants will be 7000 MW. The 10 PHWR project will result in a significant augmentation of nuclear power generation capacity.

India has current installed nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW from 22 operational plants. Another 6700 MWs of nuclear power is expected to come onstream by 2021-22 through projects presently under construction.
As the government marks three years of its nation and people centric governnace, in a first of its kind project for India’s nuclear power sector, the ten new units will come up in fleet mode as a fully homegrown initiative. It would be one of the flagship “Make in India” projects in this sector.

With likely manufacturing orders of close to 70,000 crores to the domestic industry, the project will help transform Indian nuclear industry by linking our goal of a strong nuclear power sector with our indigenous industrial capacities in high-end technologies.

This Project will bring about substantial economies of scale and maximise cost and time efficiencies by adopting fleet mode for execution. It is expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment. With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening India’s credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse.

The ten reactors will be part of India’s latest design of 700 MW PHWR fleet with state-of-art technology meeting the highest standards of safety.

The approval also marks a statement of strong belief in the capability of India’s scientific community to build our technological capacities. The design and development of this project is a testament to the rapid advances achieved by India’s nuclear scientific community and industry. It underscores the mastery our nuclear scientists have attained over all aspects of indigenous PHWR technology. India’s record of building and operating PHWR reactors over the last nearly forty years is globally acclaimed.

The Cabinet’s decision reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritise the use of clean power in India’s energy mix, as part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nation’s industrialization.

It also supports India’s commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change.

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[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/ending-nuclear-dependency/article18491521.ece?homepage=true
India now has 22 nuclear power units. The first pair, located in Tarapur, Maharashtra, uses enriched uranium.These two reactors have operated safely and reliably for the past 47 years and supply the lowest cost non-hydro power. The second pair, located in Rajasthan, uses natural uranium.

The first unit of this pair has been out of service for some years due to deficiencies in some key equipment; the second unit has been operating satisfactorily. Commencing from 1983 and over a span of two and a half decades, India built 16 nuclear power units using its own technology, materials and equipment. These reactors use natural uranium as fuel. Fourteen of them have a size of 220 MW and two are of 540 MW.

Nuclear push in the 2000s

During the period 2000-2010, India designed a nuclear power unit of 700 MW capacity, using natural uranium. Construction work on two such units in Kakrapar (in Gujarat) and two in Rajasthan was taken up. These four units will go into operation in the next three years. Work on two similar units has been taken up at a site in Haryana.

All equipment and materials for these larger units will come from Indian suppliers. In recent years, two 1000 MW VVER power units have come up in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu.

In 2016, work on two more such units was commenced. When all these units go into operation, India will have 30 reactors with a capacity of 13,000 MW. By then some of the earlier units will be reaching their retirement age.

 

[Hindustani78]

Belagavi, June 09, 2017 00:01 IST
Updated: June 09, 2017 00:01 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...anal-to-uninhabited-areas/article18869109.ece

Scientists take heed to residents’ complaints of foul smell in groundwater
Uranium mining is being moved out of Gujanal village in Gokak taluk of Belagavi district after complaints from villagers that deep drilling was making borewell water smell foul.

Scientists from the central Atomic Minerals Directorate For Exploration And Research (AMDER) have confirmed to The Hindu that drilling would be moved out of inhabited areas in the village. Officers on site have clarified, however, that it is not a case of leakage of radioactive material and there was no need for alarm. “We are shifting, and this has been communicated to the district administration,” an officer said. The directorate has been doing a pilot study of uranium mining in Gujanal and two other villages in Belagavi district. While mining in Deshnoor and Suladhal are far from inhabited areas, the drilling points in Gujanal are within settlements.

Gujanal residents have been complaining that the mining was polluting groundwater. “Water in around five wells in the village has a foul smell. We are unable to drink it or use it for washing or bathing,” they said, in their complaint to the government. They suspect that coolant and other chemicals used in drilling have seeped into the water. Balesh Mugalihal, a resident, said some families who had consumed the water were suffering from acidity and headache. Maruti Ganachari, another resident, said: “We are not opposed to uranium mining as long as the chemicals do not mix with drinking water.” B.G. Prakash, senior scientist in charge of the operations in the village, has assured villagers that mining sites will be moved out of the inhabited areas.

Three years ago, AMDER selected three villages in Belagavi district — Gujanal, Deshnoor and Suladhal — for the pilot. Preliminary studies revealed that in Gujanal village, the soil contained 20 gm of uranium in one tonne of soil. This quantity (20 parts per million) is considered very low uranium grade. However, this can be commercially mined to produce between 250 and 350 tonnes of uranium per year.

 

[Hindustani78]

Another milestone: Senior Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited officials at the power plant.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ar-reactors-at-kudankulam/article19181904.ece

‘Third reactor will start generating power within 69 months’
In its dream of converting the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) site into a ‘Nuclear Park’ by establishing six 1,000 MWe pressurised water reactors with Russian assistance, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) crossed yet another major milestone on Thursday when the ‘first pour of concrete’ (raft concrete) for the third and fourth reactor buildings was conducted in a simple ceremony.

“The third reactor will start generating power within 69 months from today i.e., in March 2023; the fourth reactor will be ready for power generation one year later (March 2024),” said R. Banerjee, Director (Projects), NPCIL, told reporters.

Chairman and Managing Director of NPCIL Sathish Kumar Sharma; Executive Director (Light Water Reactors) R.S. Sundar; Site Director, KKNPP, S.V. Jinna; and officials of Atomstroyexports, the Russian firm supplying the VVER reactors technology, were present.

Mr. Banerjee said NPCIL had taken adequate measures for getting the components from Russia for the construction of the third and the fourth reactors on time. “Moreover, we, under the ‘Make In India’ programme, have planned to increase the localisation. In other words, the third and the fourth reactors will have 30% domestically fabricated components. The fifth and the sixth reactors, for which the government has already signed agreement with Russia, will have additional 20% components of Indian make. “Hence, we’ll save a huge sum of money as we construct the reactors 3 to 6,” he said.

Though the ‘first pour of concrete’ was scheduled to be held before 11 a.m. on Thursday, the milestone event took place only at 3.48 p.m. as the KKNPP engineers here had to submit online a few more details required by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board that gave its nod for the ‘first pour of concrete’ on June 19 itself.

Use of ice flakes

“Instead of using water in the concrete mixture, we’re using ice flakes to bring down the heat that usually gets generated when we mix cement, sand and blue metal in the right proportion. Since the temperature is reduced to 19 degree Celsius, there will not be any crack in the construction,” explained M.S. Suresh, Chief Engineer.

As excavation of earth for the third and the fourth reactors was completed in a record time of eight months after commencing the exercise in February 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladmir Putin formally inaugurated the ‘first pour of concrete’ for these units in October 2016 through videoconferencing from Goa.

NPCIL, the proponent of KKNPP, has planned to complete the construction of the third and the fourth reactors on an outlay of ₹39,747 crore.

Meanwhile, the first unit of KKNPP, where the scheduled annual fuel outage is going on, is likely to be ready for power generation on July 26, sources here said. “The fuel outage is likely to consume 102 days and the reactor will be ready for power generation on July 26,” the sources added.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ed-reactors/story-BskbTh9xE6TeYOflGxRGZP.html

Updated: Jul 02, 2017 10:52 IST

Hidden from public, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal at Kalpakkam near Chennai, Indian nuclear scientists are in the final throes of starting a high-tech giant stove more than 15 years in the making.

This novel nuclear reactor is a kind of an ‘akshaya patra’, the mythical goblet with a never-ending supply of food.

The Department of Atomic Energy is getting ready to commission its ultra-modern indigenously designed and locally mastered fast breeder reactor.

Experts say to make nuclear energy sustainable, one sure shot way is to make fast breeder reactors mainstream.

Yukiya Amano, director general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, says “fast reactors can help extract up to 70% more energy than traditional reactors and are safer than traditional reactors while reducing long lived radioactive waste by several fold.”

Easier said than done, since these reactors are also notoriously unstable and hence difficult to run reliably over long periods.

Called a ‘Fast Breeder Reactor’, these are a special kind of nuclear reactors that generate more atomic fuel than they consume as they work.

India has been running an experimental facility called a Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) now for 27 years.

This is a small nuclear reactor a forerunner for the monster that India has constructed at Kalpakkam called the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). This will generate electricity commercially using the fast breeder route.

The world’s only commercially operating fast breeder reactor is situated in the Ural Mountains of Russia at the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant, not far from Russia’s fourth largest city Yekateringburg.

The Russians today are the global leaders in fast breeder reactors having operated a fast breeder reactor called BN 600 since 1980.

In 2016, the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom commercially commissioned its big brother -- the BN 800 fast breeder reactor.

This reactor produces about 800 MW of electricity and supplies it to the Ural region including the city of Yekateringburg.

While electricity that is produced is no different than any other electricity but the global community of atomic boffins is suitably chuffed about this unique achievement.

M Chudakov, now with the IAEA and well-known Russian fast breeder expert, calls “these reactors a bridge to the future as they can supply an almost unlimited supply of electricity”.

All eyes are now on southern India where another global nuclear milestone is likely to be crossed this year.

Arun Kumar Bhaduri, director of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam says, “fast breeder reactors are far safer than the current generation of nuclear plants and that all efforts are being made to kickstart within this year India’s first commercial fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam.”

Such is the interest in fast breeder reactors that more than 700 of the best atomic scientists from over 30 countries gathered at Yekateringburg in IAEA’s conference on the ‘next generation nuclear systems for sustainable development’. The scientists deliberated on how to make nuclear energy last for several centuries.

Given India’s expertise, the co-chair of the conference was Suresh Chetal, one of the early pioneers of fast breeder reactors who helped tame fast breeder reactors for New Delhi when he was at the IGCAR.

Many countries have dabbled with fast breeder reactors and have given up, first off the block was the US but it gave up since inherently American governments have an allergic response with re-processing of nuclear waste in addition since USA has enough supplies of fissile material there is no hunger to maximally extract energy from uranium.

Japan and France both had robust programs with fast breeder technology but repeated failure to safely handle liquid sodium forced them to more or less give up on fast reactors.

China is more than a decade behind India in trying to master this complex beast.

Russia invested heavily in developing the fast breeder technology but since it commissioned its first fast breeder reactor BN 600 in 1980 it suffered an economic meltdown as the former Soviet Union broke up and only recently Russia could gather enough resources to complete its upgraded fast breeder reactor BN 800.

Today the BN 800 is a flagship reactor that uses both uranium and plutonium as fuel and generates electricity that is supplied to the grid. A visit to the facility reveals a squeaky clean reactor where seasoned operators like Ivan Sidrow are also experimenters as they go about trying to design a bigger 1200 MW fast breeder reactor.

India’s own PFBR is unique and rather different from the Russian fast breeder reactor though both use the same basic principle of physics.

Fast breeder reactors are called such not because they run faster but because the neutrons that sustain the atomic chain reaction travel at a much higher velocity than neutrons that help run the traditional atomic plants.

These are called breeders as they generate more fuel than they consume a fact hard to fathom since they seem to defy the laws of conservation of energy.

But a very unique quirk of elemental uranium makes this possible.

Nuclear reactors use a flavour of uranium called U-235 which unfortunately constitutes a minuscule quantity even in super purified uranium.

The larger component is what is called U-238 this flavour is the bulk but is essentially a waste product as the atomic reaction cannot be sustained by this elemental flavour.

In a fast breeder reactor the very special fast neutrons interact with the so called wasted uranium U-238 and converts it into a valuable resource. This is why fast breeders are akin to an ‘akshaya patra’.

India’s fast breeder reactor is even more unique as within it the country also deploys special rods of thorium which when they get exposed to or irradiated by fast neutrons they generate U-233 and a normally benign thorium turns into a valuable atomic material.

It is well known that India is very energy hungry and as economic growth takes place mega quantities of electricity will be required.

Unfortunately, nature has not been bountiful on India as the Indian land mass is not endowed with enough uranium but on the other hand the country has the world’s second largest store of thorium.

Today the country in a well thought out strategy is mastering fast breeder reactors that can be an effective via media for utilising the vast thorium reserves.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
03-August, 2017 17:49 IST
Consultation for Civil Nuclear Deal

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has been in discussions with M/s Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC), United States of America (USA) to arrive at a viable project proposal for setting up nuclear power plants in India. The filing of bankruptcy by M/s WEC has been noted. This would be factored-in during further discussions to ensure protection of our interests while arriving at the project proposals.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Department of Atomic Energy
03-August, 2017 17:48 IST
Development of Radiation Technology

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) - Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has been engaged in R&D work on the technology of preservation and hygienization of food and agri-products by radiation. Irradiation is very effective in treating the horticultural produces. Extension of shelf life of horticultural produces is very much depended on the produce, variety and storage conditions. For many fresh agri produce subjected to irradiation and proper storage, substantial shelf life extension has been achieved.

Unique advantages of radiation processing are:
· Significant increase in shelf life for many products including fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices, sea foods and meat products.
· Effective elimination of harmful bacteria, viruses and insects/pests.
· Cold & clean process (No temperature raise or residue); and treatment done after final packaging (no repacking necessary).

BARC-DAE has set up two technology demonstration units, one commissioned in the year 2000 for high dose irradiation at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, and another in 2002, for low dose irradiation, KRUSHAK (Krushi Utpadan Sanrakshan Kendra) facility at Lasalgaon, near Nashik. The facilities are being operated by the Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT). Recently the harmonization of food irradiation rules with the international regulation through adaptation of class wise clearance of irradiated food items by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken place [Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Sixth Amendment Regulations, 2016] for large scale deployment of this technology.

The quantum of horticulture produce in India is huge. Hence, many more facilities are needed.
Currently 15 irradiation plants are functional in the country which includes two plants set up by Government of India (KRUSHAK at Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra; and Radiation Processing Plant at Vashi, Navi Mumbai), and one each by State Government of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Annually, about 20,000 MT of food and allied products are being irradiated in the country.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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[Hindustani78]

Department of Atomic Energy
19-July, 2017 16:34 IST
Construction of New PHWR

The Government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of 10 indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in fleet mode. The reactors are planned at Kaiga, Karnataka (Kaiga-5&6), Gorakhpur, Haryana (GHAVP-3&4), Chutka, Madhya Pradesh (Chutka-1&2) and Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan (Units-1 to 4).


The total cost of setting up the ten reactors is estimated at Rs.1,05,000 crore at constant price level (excluding Escalation and Interest during Construction). The details of power to be generated by these projects, State/UT -wise would be as follows:


State
Project
Capacity (MW)

Karnataka
Kaiga 5&6
2 X 700

Haryana
GHAVP 3&4
2 X 700

Madhya Pradesh
Chutka 1&2
2 X 700

Rajasthan
Mahi Banswara 1 to 4
4 X 700


However, as nuclear power projects are in the central sector, power generated by them would be allocated to the beneficiary States/ UTs in the Electricity Region by the Ministry of Power as per the extant guidelines.

The ten reactors are scheduled to be progressively completed by the year 2031.

The nuclear power reactors have a combination of advanced active and passive (not requiring motive power or operator action) safety features. Some of the features include Containment Spray System, Passive Decay Heat Removal System, Double Containment with Steel Lined Inner Containment etc.


The materials / components / equipment required for setting up these projects will be sourced indigenously. In respect of fuel, a decision on using indigenous or imported fuel in respect of each project would be taken by the Government at an appropriate time.



The details of the present installed nuclear power capacity in the country, State/UT wise and reactor-wise are as below:


Operational Nuclear Power Plants in the country



State
Location
Units
Capacity (MW)

Maharashtra
Tarapur

TAPS-1
160

TAPS-2
160

TAPS-3
540

TAPS-4
540

Rajasthan
Rawatbhata
RAPS-1*
100

RAPS-2
200

RAPS-3
220

RAPS-4
220

RAPS-5
220

RAPS-6
220

Tamil Nadu
Kalpakkam

MAPS-1
220

MAPS-2
220

Kudankulam
KKNPP-1
1000

KKNPP-2
1000

Uttar Pradesh
Narora

NAPS-1
220

NAPS-2
220

Gujarat
Kakrapar

KAPS-1#
220

KAPS-2#
220

Karnataka
Kaiga

KGS-1
220

KGS-2
220

KGS-3
220

KGS-4
220


*Under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment for continued operation.

# Presently the units are under long shutdown for Enmasse Coolant Channel Replacement (EMCCR) and Enmasse Feeder Replacement (EMFR)

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Department of Atomic Energy
19-July, 2017 16:33 IST
Indian Nuclear Power Programme

Substantial work has been carried out in the areas of research on technologies for utilization of thorium in nuclear fuel cycle, and on the development of an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), for use of thorium based fuel on a large scale.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a constituent Unit of the Department of Atomic Energy has developed a design for Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), a Technology Demonstrator Reactor of 300 MW, for utilisation of Thorium. The reactor is designed and developed to achieve large-scale use of thorium for the generation of commercial nuclear power which is a part of India's three stage nuclear power programme. Thus, AHWR is not only a stepping stone to the third stage but also expected to provide a platform for developing and testing technologies required for the third stage. AHWR is designed with the motto of highest level of safety and security. The Government, in December, 2016, has accorded in-principle approval for the Tarapur Maharashtra Site (TMS) for locating the 300 MW Advanced Heavy Water Reactor.

During the last five years, KKNPP 3&4 (2X1000 MW) and KKNPP 5&6 (2 x 1000 MW) projects at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu being set up in technical cooperation with Russian Federation have been accorded financial sanction and administrative approval by the Government. The construction of KKNPP 3&4 has commenced and the General Framework Agreement for KKNPP 5&6 has been concluded. In respect of setting up nuclear power projects in cooperation with the USA, discussions with M/s Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) have commenced to arrive at viable project proposals.

The approved completion cost of the KKNPP 3&4 (2X1000 MW) project is Rs. 39,849 crore and that of KKNPP 5&6 (2 x 1000 MW) is Rs. 49,621 crore. The project proposals of the other projects to be set up with Russian & US technical cooperation are at various stages of discussion. The allocations will be made project-wise on approval of the projects. These projects are expected to start power generation beyond 2020.

The role of nuclear power in the near term is to supplement generation from fossil fuel sources and in the long term, provide the country energy security. All energy sources including coal and nuclear will be deployed optimally to meet the country’s growing electricity demand. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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