Nuclear power corporation of india plans to export nuclear reactors

 NPCIL to export nuclear reactors

Government run NPCIL has initiated talks with India companies and financial institutions to form a consortium for exporting pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs)  to  emerging countries. The consortium  will facilitate export PHWR s to under less developed countries include Myanmar,Cambodia,Kazakhstan ,Africa, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Nuclear power corporation of India (NPCIL ) has now present  capacity of our nuclear power plants is 4,460 M.W.only.  NPCIL  at present plan to increase nuclear power capacity  to 63,000 M.W. by 2032 with help international companies participation and with domestic nuclear power plants generating capacity augmentation .

NPCIL   chair man and managing director (CMD) MR.S.K. Jain told in a press conference that “  NPCIL has enough expertise and technical experience with proven technology of PHWRs in exporting  in capacities of 220 M.W. and 540 M.W. to under less developed countries since those countries to whom we are planed to export reactors as their grid cannot take  bigger capacity reactors of 1000 M.W. and above.

The exports can be possible with consortium as NPCIL cannot alone fulfill countries specific requirements. The consortium will be formed along in line of consortium French reactor supplier Areva.

Mr. .Jain  said the objective of formation consortium is to enable us to sell our own nuclear reactors and market our reactors to other countries.

Mr. Jain CMD of NPCIL said discussions on formation of consortium were at initial stages. The involvement of Indian financial institutions such as LIC will be important as they can play a key role to meet huge financial   investments which are  required to exporting  these nuclear reactors.

The consortium will be involved in project development while huge investments will be managed by individual countries who wish to procure our reactors. He  also said consortium will also make available long term debt.

According to Jain India presently having 20 PHWRs with nuclear power generation capacity 4,460 M.W.and 20 nuclear power plants of capacity  700 M.W.planned . Of these 10 nuclear plants are  planned based on domestic uranium fuel out of  safe guards. The remaining 10 PHWR  nuclear power plants planned to be fuelled with reprocessing uranium obtained from light water reactors that those would be set up with international co-operation.

NPCIL green initiative

NPCIL will planned to invest  2 per cent  from net profit for nuclear power plants clean  green initiative  towards CSR (corporate  social  responsibility ) . NPCIL  to appoint a board  director for green lobby to look after environmental safety of nuclear power plants.

The India’s premier NPCIL  nuclear power corporation of India planned to increase nuclear power generating capacity  to  63,000 M.W. by 2032 would soon appoint environmentalist on its board of director.

Nuclear power corporation of India limited would also set up advisory committee comprising social sciences,environmentalist and N.G.Os to advise the organization on advising on environmental issue  and also NPCIL decided to allot 2 per cent towards corporate social responsibility for community and area development.

NPCIL move crucial especially when there was rising objections against its 10,000 M.W. nuclear power plant in Maharashtra by social and environmental activists. The villagers fear the plant would damage agriculture and marine life  in adjoining areas.
NPCIL chair man managing director Mr.S.K. Jain told that we care about environmental sustainability of nature surrounding our plants . The vast stretches of land on which nuclear reactor are set up, provide opportunity for our fellow citizens to live peacefully even though nuclear power plants are part and parcel of life for green initiatives. Environmentalists have a view point and we are prepared to do much more  NPCIL does not believe in short cuts. Therefore an environmentalist will be appointed in our board of director who can help our environmental protection measures.

He also said environmental advisory committee would also be instrumental to suggest protection measures to be initiated in while implementing NPCIL safety and environmental programs.    

NPCIL  has implemented environment stewardship program ( ESP) which focuses on scientific study of bio-diversity  within and around exclusive nuclear plant areas. As part of program local volunteers are trained and campaign are organized to enhance green awareness in around nuclear plant areas.

  Mr. Jain said NPCIL has been associated with Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to educate and create awareness about  environmental conservation and avifauna. The thick a forestation around plants allures a variety of local migratory bird. Campaign on local environmental safety measures will be conducted by NPCIL. The KAIGA  plant in association with the world wild life fund (WWF) participate in activities of  releasing fish seedlings. The Narora  plant in association with WWF carries out surveys of Gang a  dolphins. Each nuclear project has environmental safety laboratory, which operated  by physics division of Bhabha  atomic research centre “ he said.

According to  Mr. Jain NPCIL environmental monitoring program monitors the environmental the radiation exposure to public due operation of nuclear power plants. The analysis is carried out using sophisticated radio chemical analysis and other highly sensitive instruments.

The above environmental measures by NPCIL will help awareness about nuclear plants and human survival in the environment where there is no safety problems while generating energy for  India’s development.

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