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Fresh uranium fuel supplies likely by April

NEW DELHI: Nuclear power generation is set to get a boost with six plants, now functioning at almost 48 per cent of their installed capacity, likely to receive a fresh supply of uranium fuel from April 2009, thanks to the recently concluded India-U.S. deal.

Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh told The Hindu here on Wednesday: “I have discussed fuel supply for these plants and utilisation of the capacity lying idle with the Atomic Energy Department Chairman, Anil Kakodkar. He said fuel supplies to the existing nuclear plants were expected to be resumed by March or April next.

As against the capacity of 4,120 MWe, the six plants were generating only 2,100 MWe. Mr. Ramesh said Dr. Kakodkar had assured him that fuel supplies would increase by that time and there would be a visible improvement in power generation from the existing reactors. Now nearly 2,200 MWe of generation capacity was lying unutilised. Another 7,000 MWe of capacity was also lying unused due to non-availability of gas. “The country presently is facing an energy shortage of 10 per cent and a peaking demand shortage of 9 per cent. If both nuclear and gas generation capacity is fully utilised, there would be no shortage of power,” he said.

According to the latest data, the Tarapore Atomic Plant was generating 511 MWe against a capacity of 1,400 MWe; Kakrapur 117 MWe (capacity 440 MWe); Narora 73 MWe (440 MWe), Rajasthan 252 MWe (740 MWe); Kaiga 237 MWe (660 MWe) and Kalpakkam 205 MWe (440 MWe).

Mr. Ramesh said the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the National Thermal Power Corporation would form a joint venture to set up two nuclear plants of 1,000-MWe capacity each.

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