NUCLEAR POWER IN INDIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

C.VISHAL
CHANDRA BABU

SECTION-B
(210)

Date: 23-11-09

Nuclear power is generating electrical energy using radioactive fuels like

uranium, thorium etc using a fusion process. Nuclear power is considered to
be one of the safe, environmentally benign, reliable and economically
feasible source of energy. It is also considered to be a renewable source of
energy.

Present capacity in India:

There are more than 500 plants throughout the world of which only 17
plants are operating in India. Of the total installed plants of more than 360
GW throughout the world India is having only an installed capacity of about
4120MW that is the current share of India in world nuclear power is less than
5%. . Due to the rising electric demand in India day by day and the
increasing power crisis government is now planning to increase the capacity
to more than double of the existing by 2012. .

The contribution of nuclear power in India in the total electricity

generated is only 3% which the government wants to increase it to 9% in the
future years. It has also signed different treaties and agreements with
different countries like USA, France, Kazakhstan, and Argentina for
supporting India to establish new plants.

India’s position of nuclear power in the world:

The total share of generating nuclear power in the world for India is
very low. Countries like France, Belgium, UK, Canada, USA etc largely
depend on nuclear power with an average of around 55% of their daily
energy needs produced from nuclear plants. Nuclear power in India is under
public sector services provided by the government of India.
Plants under planning:

Nuclear Power Corporation of India limited (NPCIL) in support with

Department of Atomic energy was been given the rights of establishing the
nuclear power plants in India. No private partnerships are allowed in this
sector. But, the suppliers of the fuel and infrastructure support can be taken
from different suppliers of different companies throughout the world.

Two units are to be established in Rajasthan and one in Kaiga (Karnataka).

Apart from this, a plant in Maharashtra is also commissioned with two
reactors which are to be imported from France. This project will require an
estimated capital of 33,000 crore. NPCIL has the initial capital of 18,000
crore and the remaining 15,000 crores are being planned from External
Credit Assistance (ECA). Five French banks and French financial institutions
are going to provide credit for NPCIL.

Plants under operation:

At, present NPCIL has planned to install five units of which two units are
established in Kudankulam (Tamilnadu). Of these the construction of
infrastructure has been completed in Kudankulam plant. The plant is set to
be installed in three stages. The first two stages are already completed and
the third stage which the sample testing of the plant with imported dummy
fuel is being under the process.

Suppliers to nuclear plants India:

India is importing the fuel for operations of plants from Russia. It

received the first consignment of fuel for the second unit from Atomstrory
Export, a Russian based company. Russia is yet to supply 600 metric tons of
pipelines and some fixtures for the Kudankulam plant by the end of
November 2009. India is also importing the dummy fuel from Russia.

Also, the pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) for Kudankulam plant
are being imported from Areva, a French company. Areva has a MoU with
BHEL for setting up the infrastructure for power plants in India. Areva T&D,
the Indian branch of Areva is setting the grid for the transmission and
distribution of the nuclear power to the national grid.

The other foreign companies like General Electric Hitachi, Westinghouse

electric company, Atomic Energy of Canada limited (AEC) are setting up the
reactors for different plants at different locations in India.
 REFERENCES

1. India plans massive nuclear energy boost – 2008

www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/india_plans_massive_nuclear_ener
gy_boost_999.html

2. Future nuclear power - S.K. Jain (27th august 2009)

NPCIL (nuclear corporation of India limited)

www.npcil.nic.in/press_27aug09.pdf

3. Areva planning major investments in India – PB Jayakumar and Nevin

John ( 13th July 2009)

www.businessstandards.com/india.news/areva_planning_major_invest
ments_in_india/363745/

4. NPCIL- annual report 07-08

5. Nuclear power – Sudhinder Thakur

Survey of Indian industry - 09