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Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Power Industry & Economy - Infrastructure 30,000 MW to be added using imported N-fuel
NPCIL plans exporting small reactors to Asian countries Talks held with Thailand and Cambodia
Rahul Wadke Mumbai, Aug. 15 The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) plans to add 30,000 MW of power based on imported nuclear fuel in the near future. The site selection committee of the DAE has already identified five coastal sites for setting up the nuclear power plants, said Dr S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). Dr Jain said that the committee has identified sites in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal for setting up the plants. Each plant would have a capacity of 6,000 MW to 8,000 MW. It would require six large reactors, each having 1,000 MW to 1,650 MW configuration. He was talking to Business Line in the context of India signing the nuclear agreement with the US. Dr Jain said that the Indian nuclear industry has waited for the last two years for the agreement to be concluded. Now that an important milestone has been crossed, prospects of a major thrust to nuclear power generation capacity look bright. The agreement facilitates the process of discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, he said. The agreement will give global access to Indian nuclear industry and help the indigenous industry in becoming a global player. He said that NPCIL was also considering exporting small and medium reactors (220 MW to 700 MW) to countries in the Asian region. It has all the necessary infrastructure and designs for servicing this segment of the market. Many countries want reactors in this range but they also seek lifetime guarantee of fuel. Therefore, NPCIL and DAE are considering of having stakes in uranium mines overseas, either through joint venture or independent investment, he added. “New and emerging Uranium mines in Nigeria, Mozambique, Mongolia and Kazakhstan could be considered for this venture,” he said. Thailand and Cambodia have held preliminary talks with NPCIL for reactors as they are satisfied with NPCIL’s safety and operational capabilities, he said. Private players
On the question of private sector participation in nuclear technology, Dr Jain said, “Today, the private players do not have skills to handle nuclear technology. Nor they would be able to deal with the statutory requirements of the Atomic Energy Board. These skills cannot come overnight,” he said.
Related Stories: NPCIL to add 10,000 MW capacity using imported fuel US commits to assurances regarding fuel supplies More Stories on : Power | Infrastructure
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