Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051204791500.htm

National

Reactors that will come under safeguards identified

Special Correspondent

Updated plan for separating nuclear facilities tabled in Parliament

Individual NFC facilities to be offered for safeguards by 2008 also identified

14 reactors identified for safeguards

Indian delegation in Tel Aviv's Israel Trade Fair Convention Centre on Wednesday. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje (second from right) gave a power point presentation emphasising issues on water. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi are also seen.

NEW DELHI: Tabling an updated version of the Indian separation plan for its civilian and military nuclear facilities in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday identified the specific thermal power reactors to be placed under "India-specific safeguards" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) between 2006 and 2014.

The "full and complete text of India's separation plan" also identifies the individual facilities within the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad, which will be offered for safeguards by 2008.

Complete plan

According to the complete separation plan as tabled, the 14 reactors to be safeguarded are the following: TAPS 1 and 2 at Tarapur, RAPS 1 and 2 at Rawatbhata and Kudankulam 1 and 2 (all by 2006); RAPS 5 (by 2007); RAPS 6 (by 2008); RAPS 3 and 4 (by 2010); KAPS 1 and 2 at Kakrapar (by 2012); and NAPS 1 and 2 at Narora (by 2014). Of these, the first six are already safeguarded or committed to safeguards. RAPS 5 and 6 are under construction while the rest are currently operational and will run un-safeguarded till the date specified.

Thus, the current and planned reactors, which will remain un-safeguarded, are: MAPS 1 and 2 at Kalpakkam (both 220 MWe); TAPS 3 and 4 (both 540 MWe); and Kaiga 1, 2, 3 and 4 (all 220 MWe).

These are in addition to the fast breeder reactors currently operational and under construction, all of which will remain outside the purview of inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The NFC facilities to be safeguarded are: the Uranium Oxide Plant (Block A), the Ceramic Fuel Fabrication Plant (Palletising) (Block A), the Ceramic Fuel Fabrication Plant (Assembly) (Block A), the Enriched Uranium Oxide Plant, the Enriched Fuel Fabrication Plant and the Gadolinia Facility.

Further details added

When the Prime Minister had first tabled the separation plan on March 7, paragraph 14 (i) and (v) of that document had stated that further details would be added in regard to the specific reactors that would be offered for safeguards and phasing, and in regard to facilities of the NFC that would similarly be offered for safeguards.

"These details have now been added and the complete text of the same document is enclosed," a covering note states.