Twelve more nuclear plants in India soon
India will have 12 more nuclear plants to improve the power situation and ensure a free flow of uninterrupted power supply for both industrial and residential use, K.N. Vyas, Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has said.
“Nuclear technology helps in betterment of lives through varied usages and is an irreplaceable source of clean, pollution-free energy,” said Vyas, also the Atomic Energy Commission Chairman. He was speaking at the 11th International Forum AtomExpo 2019, sponsored by Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, held in Sochi, Russia.
“We believe that when it comes to clean energy, there is no substitute to nuclear energy as it is sustainable and without interruption, one can have clean energy.”
Vyas said the first stage of India’s indigenous nuclear power programme has now attained maturity, with 18 operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). The government has sanctioned 10 PHWRs in fleet mode, besides which plans are ready for constructing two light water reactors.
Nuclear power in India delivers a total capacity of 6.7GW, contributing to just under 2 per cent of the country’s electricity supply. India currently has seven operational nuclear power plants Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, Tarapur Nuclear Reactor in Maharashtra, Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, Kaiga Atomic Power Plant in Karnataka, Kalapakkam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, Narora Nuclear Reactor in Uttar Pradesh and Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant in Gujarat.
Of these seven, Kudankulam is the highest-capacity nuclear plant in India, with a total of 2,000 MW currently installed, and with a further 2,000 MW under construction. Kudankulam is the only nuclear plant in India that uses pressurised water reactors (PWR) rather than boiling water reactors (BHWR) or PHWRs. The PWRs are based on Russian technology and were supplied by Atomstroyexport.
The Tarapur Nuclear Reactor in Maharashtra is the oldest nuclear facility in India, having commenced commercial operations in 1969. The reactor is currently the second most powerful in India, with two BHWRs of 160 MW and two PHWRs of 540 MW forming a total of 1,400 MW.