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The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), the sole supplier of uranium to the country’s nuclear energy programme, has achieved a record production of 1,252.3 tonnes of fuel bundles during 2014-15.
This is an increase of nearly 290 tonnes over the previous year’s 961.22 tonnes. It meets the fuel demands of all the 18 operating pressurised heavy water reactors and two boiled water reactors at Tarapur, Maharashtra.
Each tonne of fuel bundles translates to ₹3 crore, which means the NFC supplied ₹870 crore worth of material to ensure that Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), which operates the power plants, generates more nuclear power, said N Saibaba, Chief Executive of the Hyderabad-headquartered unit under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Judicious mix Presenting highlights of the performance for the year to the media on Wednesday, Saibaba said the judicious mix of indigenous sources of uranium and imported ones to meet the expanding nuclear power programme of the country was very practical.
The NFC had established technical expertise to deal with the latest fuels and needs of the newer types of reactors. The Tummalapalle uranium mines in Andhra Pradesh have huge reserves, he said. In the next few months, production will begin.
It will substantially add to the indigenous resources to make the fuel bundles and feed the upcoming reactors.
NPCIL has at least five 5 large reactors under various stages of construction. At present, the company has established a total capacity of 5,780 MW.
The ₹2,400-crore plant with an annual capacity of 500 tonnes, being established in Kota, Rajasthan, will be ready in the next couple of years, to meet future needs, Saibaba added.
The NFC has developed a range of technologies and products for the strategic sectors of space, atomic energy and defence.
The recent ones include the Truss Rod Assemblies, hydraulic tubing for Light Combat Aircraft, special grade seamless tubes for the nuclear submarine and the seamless tubes for the advanced ultra supercritical boilers.
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