FBRs CAN ENHANCE GENERATION CAPACITY
TO 3,00,000 MW
The indigenously
developed Fast Breeder Reactor technology can help enhance our
installed nuclear power generation capacity to well over 3,00,000
MW, even with our modest uranium resources. This was disclosed
by the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Anil Kakodkar
while addressing the 47th General Conference of the
International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna last night. The government
of India gave the nod for going ahead with the construction of
Fast Breeder Reactors early this month and approved the building
up of the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor. The pre-project
activities of the Reactor have commenced with some of them already
completed, said Dr. Kakodkar.
The AEC Chairman
pointed out that the Fast Breeder Test Reactor in operation at
the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research since 1985 has achieved
a burn up of 1,03,000 MW day tonne, recording an excellent performance
without any fuel failure. This reactor is using indigenous uranium-plutonium
mixed carbide fuel, probably the first in the world. Dr. Kakodkar
also pointed out that the irradiation of uranium-plutonium mixed
oxide fuel composition for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor,
using U-233 as additional fissile supplement to achieve the required
linear heat rating commenced in the test reactor from July 2003.
In order to close the Fast Breeder Test Reactor fuel cycle, a
facility for reprocessing the carbide fuel has been commissioned
and the reprocessing campaign also started, Dr. Kakodkar said.
Describing India’s
nuclear power programme as one of the best in the world, both
in terms of safety and performance, he said, in about four years
India would reach an installed generating capacity of around 4,500
MW with Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, the main stay of the
first stage of indigenous nuclear power programme. Another 2,320
MW will be added with Light Water Reactors taking the total to
6,800 MW as against the present capacity of 2,720 MW, he said.
