india nuclear scenario

India nuclear scenario

The Indian nuclear scene has acquired a new look.

NPCIL (nuclear power corporation of India ) targeted 63000 MW of nuclear energy by 2032 which is about 35 percent of total power country’s capacity (present India power generating capacity is 1,62,000 MW) projecting nuclear power as largest ingredient.

The enlarged 2032 target achievable once planned 30,000 MW advanced light water reactors to be imported during next two decades from leading powers Russia, France,U.S. Japan and Korea.

Indigenous construction of 700 Mwe  pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) mapping out by NPCIL and one chain of 500 MW fast breeder that are to follow the pro to type 500 MW of FBR under construction at Kalpakkam under implementation.

These projects are formidable challenges both light water reactors and a chain of indigenous PHWRs and FBRs. Now has 20   nuclear projects operating mostly on pressurized heavy water.

The scenario on the ground shows vibrant activity. NPCIL is pushing a head with construction of fresh chain of indigenous built PHWRS. After having up graded reactor design from 220Mwe to 500Mwe at Tarapur 3 and 4 reactors upcoming built up is  700Mwe  each construction has been launched four 700MWe reactors at two sites where some best PHWRs in the world have been  built by NPCIL in Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan . Here construction of Kakrapar 3 and 4 and Rajasthan 7 and 8 have been launched. Together there four reactors and 2800 Mwe nuclear power is added to present capacity of 4780 MWe. The four reactor expected to be operational zed in 2015-2016.

Nuclear projects under construction          rector type   capacity in MW             expected commissioning

KNPP-1 Kundankulam  Tamilnadu          LWR             1000                             March 2011
KNPP-2  Kundankulam  Tamilnadu          LWR             1000                             Dec-2011
KAPS-3  Kakrapar          Gujarat             PHWR             700                             June -2015
KAPS-4  Kakrapar          Gujarat            PHWR              700                            Dec-2015
RPAS-7  Rawatbhatla      Rajasthan        PHWR               700                            June -2016
RPAS-8 Rawatbhatla       Rajasthan        PHWR               700                            June -2016

Proposed project

Jaithapur                          Maharashtra    EPR                  3200                             2017


For faster nuclear power addition in parallel to the indigenous three stage program additional ties  based on imports ,have been included. Two light water reactors (LWR) of 1000 Mwe each are under construction at Kundankulam ( as mentioned above) in technical co-operation with Russia federation.

The possible nuclear capacity beyond 2020 has been estimated by  Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in energy terms, the integrated energy policy of India estimates share of nuclear power in total primary energy mix to be between 4 per cent to 6.4 per cent in various scenarios in the year 2031-32. DAE estimates to be about 8.6 per cent by year 2032.

Jaithapur preliminary work at this nuclear site likely to commence shortly, meant for French company AREVA ‘s EPR ( EUROPEAN PRESSURIZED REACTOR ) each generating 1600 Mwe capacity. Environmental clearance has been for proposal.

Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh is host U.S. technology reactors possibly GE-Hitachi  ABWR or ESBWR boiling water reactors. These are among advanced 1400 Mwe reactors. Environmental clearance has been given.

Mithi Virdi   in Gujarat is host  U.S. technology Westinghouse AP 1000 reactors. Here also project activities initiated, environmental clearance has been given .

Haripur in West Bengal is host Russian WER-1200MWe units. However resistance from political parties putting doubt the future of this project.

Hectic and eventful negotiations are billed 2011 to give final shape to India’s  induction of these advanced reactors.

The progress with Westinghouse and General Electric has been much less compared to France and Russia. There internal problems in U.S. about nuclear power and democrats do not seem to be enthusiastic either . We want U.S. industry to speed up negations with India early commissioning planned projects.

There are other problems. India passed nuclear liability bill  recently . But liability issue is an elephant in a room. Russia ,Japan, South Korea ( reactor of Westinghouse or America design ) which means they two will want liability issue to be clarified before going ahead with any formal negotiations. As U.S. concerned it is not agreeable totally to liability bill.

India has finally signed a Convention that rules the financial liability of civil nuclear operators and supplier world  a step that is expected to make it easier for foreign suppliers to do business here.

The Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) was signed at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)head quarters Vienna recently a move that has been long sought by U.S. to reassure its supplier to enter Asian nations expanding nuclear market.

U.S. companies are believed to be wary of entering India’s 150 billion dollars nuclear power market due to India’s  enacted nuclear liability law which extends the liability in the event of accident to suppliers.

NPCIL should aggressively and optimistically negotiate in a phased manner with foreign nuclear suppliers and convince them to start negotiation  and construction of above nuclear power plants to enable to reach target 63000 MW. Nuclear power by 2032.

The following are suggested for achieving the target.

1. Renegotiation of nuclear liability bill and enacting amendment to bill to attracting nuclear reactor suppliers.
2.Enter civil nuclear energy deals with Japan and South Korea.
3.Arrangement and planning of finances phased manner for nuclear reactor purchase .
4.Adopting right latest imported reactor technology (LWR) with condition that reactor supplier must supply uranium long-term supply for reactor continuously running and producing nuclear power.
5.Development of thorium based nuclear reactors.
6.indigenous development of heavy water reactors in addition to development of fast breeder reactors.
7.Environmental site clearances by continuously negotiating with land owners by offering safe environmental protection polices and attractive compensation packages as nuclear fuel is a clean source of energy .