The Government
is committed to implement the third stage of Indian Nuclear Power Programme,
after an adequate nuclear installed capacity has been reached based on Fast
Breeder Reactors to be set up in the second stage. On account of non-existence
of any fissile isotope in naturally occurring Thorium (unlike that existing in
Uranium), commercial utilisation of Thorium, on a significant scale, can begin
only when abundant supply of either Uranium or Plutonium resources are
available. Upon the launch, followed by a significant growth of a thorium based
nuclear programme in this manner, it could be possible to maintain the achieved
level (without much further growth) of nuclear power programme with thorium
alone, without additional demands on uranium or plutonium resources. Therefore,
considering the meager domestic uranium resources in the country, it is
feasible to start a significant commercial level Thorium based reactor
programme in our country only after an adequate inventory of Plutonium becomes
available from our Fast Breeder Reactors, comprising the second stage of Indian
nuclear programme. Accordingly, the utilisation of Thorium as a practically
inexhaustible energy source has been contemplated during the third stage of the
Indian nuclear programme, which can be reached after a few decades.
Substantial
work has been carried out in the areas of research on technologies for
utilisation of thorium in nuclear fuel cycle, and on the development of an
Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), to serve as a technology demonstrator for
use of thorium based fuel on a large scale.
The details of
Projects initiated in the last five years along with amount
earmarked and estimated power
production are given below:
|
Project
|
Location
|
Capacity
(MW)
|
Completion cost (Rs.crore)
|
|
Kakrapar Atomic Power Project
Units 3&4 (KAPP 3&4)
|
Kakrapar, Gujarat
|
2 X 700
|
11459
|
|
Rajasthan Atomic Power
Project Units 7&8 (RAPP 7&8)
|
Rawatbhata, Rajasthan
|
2 X 700
|
12320
|
The details of
projects accorded financial sanction and being readied for launch are :
|
Project
|
Location
|
Capacity
(MW)
|
Completion
cost (Rs.Crore
|
|
Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana
(GHAVP 1&2)
|
Gorakhpur, Haryana
|
2 x 700
|
20594
|
|
Kudankulam Nuclear Power
Project (KKNPP 3&4)
|
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu
|
2 x 1000
|
39849
|
This information was given by
the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region
(DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy
and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha
today.
*****
NK/KM