ID :
19257
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 20:29
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19257
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Assured fuel after N.S.G. waiver can keep nuke plants cranking
New Delhi, Sep 12 (PTI) Elated over the Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) waiver, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (N.P.C.I.L.) is confident that uninterrupted fuel supplies can help double the power production from its atomic plants through greater capacity utilisation.
The state-owned nuclear energy generator, which currently
runs 17 reactors in different parts of the country, hopes to produce up to 4,000 MW power without any hiccups once there is regular fuel supplies.
"Current plant load factor of the nuclear units being operated by N.P.C.I.L. is around 40 to 42 percent on account of fuel supply mismatch as against 85 to 90 percent at which they can operate," Chairman and Managing Director of N.P.C.I.L. S K Jain told PTI.
The capacity utilisation of country's power plants aggregating 4,120 MW came down from 90 percent in 2001-02 to 40 to 42 due to lack of fuel, he said. But with the N.S.G. lifting the nuclear trade embargo India could get off the ground and give a push to civilian nuclear programme.
The prospects of assured fuel supplies also augured well for the new atomic plants. N.P.C.I.L. is all set to add over 2,600 MW of power generation to the national grid by 2010 from its five units under construction.
However, before getting the nuclear fuel, Jain said India has to conclude agreements with N.S.G. countries for uninterrupted supplies.
"The agreement with various governments, namely U.S., France and Russia being negotiated by the Government of India have to be operationalised," Jain said.
The proposed Civil Nuclear Liability Act would also be required to be enacted by Parliament as soon as possible.
"After this only it would be possible to get any fuel or other supplies from NSG countries. As per the present plan, it may take anywhere between 3 and 4 months to negotiate contract and receive uranium supply," the N.P.C.I.L. chief said.
N.P.C.I.L., a public sector undertaking spearheading India's nuclear power programme, has 17 reactors under its wing and five reactors are under construction in various stages.
The N.S.G. waiver will not only facilitate induction of
latest civilian nuclear technology to India but the country is
set to attract massive global investment worth billions of
dollars for generation of nuclear power.
It is expected that the nuclear agreement with the U.S.
may allow India to generate additional 40,000 MW of nuclear
power by 2020.
The state-owned nuclear energy generator, which currently
runs 17 reactors in different parts of the country, hopes to produce up to 4,000 MW power without any hiccups once there is regular fuel supplies.
"Current plant load factor of the nuclear units being operated by N.P.C.I.L. is around 40 to 42 percent on account of fuel supply mismatch as against 85 to 90 percent at which they can operate," Chairman and Managing Director of N.P.C.I.L. S K Jain told PTI.
The capacity utilisation of country's power plants aggregating 4,120 MW came down from 90 percent in 2001-02 to 40 to 42 due to lack of fuel, he said. But with the N.S.G. lifting the nuclear trade embargo India could get off the ground and give a push to civilian nuclear programme.
The prospects of assured fuel supplies also augured well for the new atomic plants. N.P.C.I.L. is all set to add over 2,600 MW of power generation to the national grid by 2010 from its five units under construction.
However, before getting the nuclear fuel, Jain said India has to conclude agreements with N.S.G. countries for uninterrupted supplies.
"The agreement with various governments, namely U.S., France and Russia being negotiated by the Government of India have to be operationalised," Jain said.
The proposed Civil Nuclear Liability Act would also be required to be enacted by Parliament as soon as possible.
"After this only it would be possible to get any fuel or other supplies from NSG countries. As per the present plan, it may take anywhere between 3 and 4 months to negotiate contract and receive uranium supply," the N.P.C.I.L. chief said.
N.P.C.I.L., a public sector undertaking spearheading India's nuclear power programme, has 17 reactors under its wing and five reactors are under construction in various stages.
The N.S.G. waiver will not only facilitate induction of
latest civilian nuclear technology to India but the country is
set to attract massive global investment worth billions of
dollars for generation of nuclear power.
It is expected that the nuclear agreement with the U.S.
may allow India to generate additional 40,000 MW of nuclear
power by 2020.
