The Hindu Business Line : Koodankulam to have 4 more reactors

AFTER successfully starting joint work with Russia to set up two 1,000-MW nuclear power reactors at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu, India is now working with France to explore the possibility of jointly establishing nuclear power plants in India.

An Indo-French Group is already studying the feasibility of setting up nuclear plants. The proposal is to have a cluster of six reactors of 1,000 MW each, according to Mr S.A. Bohra, Senior Executive Director (technical), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

Even in Koodankulam "we expect to bring down the gestation period by 8-9 months and complete the project in 60 months, far ahead of schedule. The Russians are also now convinced of the capability of NPCIL to execute the project," Mr Bohra told newspersons here on Saturday.

"Concurrently, the Indian Government is in discussions with the Russian Government to set up another set of four 1,000-MW units at the same place. The site for the proposed expansion programme is ready," the NPCIL executive said.

On the question of private sector participation, he said the process of amending the Atomic Energy Act to facilitate such a move was on. In the meantime, there was a significant increase in the participation of the Indian industry in execution of the eight new nuclear power reactors that were being set up, he said.Referring to the Prototype Fast-Breeder Reactor (PFBR), recently cleared by the Government for construction, Mr Bohra said a separate company had been set up and the project would be completed in 60 months at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Advanced Research, near Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

There was enough spent fuel available from the 13 operating nuclear power reactors to get Plutonium, which is the fuel for the PFBR. The new company would take up the construction of future FBRs in the country, he said.

Armed with new design, high credit rating for resource mobilisation, industry backing and capability to shorten gestation periods to less than 60 months, NPCIL had set a target of adding at least 800 MW of nuclear power annually and reach 10,000 MW (now 2,770 MW) by 2011.

"Once we reach this figure and operate at the present average capacity factors (plant load factors) of 85 per cent and higher, we have told the Government that we don't require further funding and would sustain a programme of 1,000 MW annually through own resources," Mr Bohra said.

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