Indian Power Sphere

Haryana nuclear project to be on stream in 5 years...

2014-01-13T09:56:00.001+05:30

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone on Monday for a nuclear power project near Gorakhpur village in Fatehbad district of Haryana.

The project will comprise two reactors of 700 MWe each. They are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that will use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both coolant and moderator.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will build these reactors. This is the first time Haryana will have a nuclear project.

In the second stage, the NPCIL will build two more PHWRS of 700 MWe each at the Gorakhpur site.

The first pour of the concrete for the first two reactors will take place in June 2015 . As per present plans, the first unit will be commissioned 63 months from now and the second unit six months later. About 534 hectares for the entire project and 75 hectares for residential quarters for the NPCIL employees have been acquired around Gorakhpur.

Informed sources said the Cabinet has given “in-principle” approval for building the third and fourth PHWRS of 700 MWe each at the site.

The NPCIL is already building four PHWRS of 700 MWe each, two units each at Kakrapara in Gujarat and Rawatbhatta in Rajasthan. The units at Kakrapara are under advanced stage of construction and they will reach criticality in 2016.

The NPCIL will also build 700 MWe reactors that will use natural uranium as fuel at Chutka and Bhimpur in Madhya Pradesh, Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in Karnataka.

The NPCIL had notched up a capacity factor of more than 80 per cent in its operating units across the country in both the financial years 2012-13 and 2013-2014, the sources said.

Source

South Korea keen on setting up nuclear power plant in India...

2014-01-12T18:19:00.001+05:30

Keen to enter India's growing nuclear market, South Korea wants to build an atomic power plant here but India is not rushing into it.

The government first wants to complete the projects already initiated, including Koodankulam III and IV and Jaitapur, which are facing hurdles on various counts. However, India is willing to have cooperation with South Korea in other aspects of the nuclear field, like research.

South Korea conveyed its desire to build a nuclear plant in India when a delegation from its Ministry of Science came here recently, sources told a news agency.

This was preceded by a visit of a team of Department of Atomic Energy to South Korea to discuss cooperation in the nuclear field in November last year.

Sources said India not very keen to have Korean nuclear reactors immediately. The DAE first wants to concentrate on existing plants and deal with the issues like liability over which many foreign collaborators have raised questions.

"We would first want to clear the impediments for projects that are already in pipeline and then move on to another projects," said a senior DAE official. Currently, all the power plants are running behind schedule.

The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project (JNPP) being built with French assistance, the unit 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) with Russian assistance and the Mithi Virdhi nuclear plant with the assistance of the US are either stuck because of various reasons or running behind schedule.

Source

Second Kudankulam unit to start commercial operation from Sept...

2014-01-10T20:58:00.001+05:30

The second unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) will start generating electricity from September, Union Minister V Narayanasamy has said.

"Ninety-five per cent of the work for second unit of the plant has been completed and we should start commercial operation from the unit by September 2014," the Minister of State in the PMO told reporters.

The first unit of KKNPP, built with Russian assistance, has already started generating power and is connected to the Southern grid.

"We are currently generating 440 MW of electricity from the first unit and all the power generated goes to Tamil Nadu. We will soon increase the production to 750 MW and after taking necessary permissions from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the plant will start generating 1000 MW of electricity by February," the minister said.

The KKNPP units 1 and 2 are currently the largest power generating units in the country with a capacity of 1000 MW each. Talks with Russia over Unit 3 and 4 are stuck over the liability clause of the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010.

Source

India's first greenfield Nuclear power site to begin operations...

2014-01-10T17:13:00.001+05:30

India’s first greenfield site for nuclear reactor in 14 years is set to become operational on Monday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lays the foundation for two 700-MW nuclear power plants at Gorakhpur in the Fatehabad district of Haryana.

“The two units are likely to produce commercial electricity by 2020-21 as it would take five to six years to complete the construction, which would begin in June 2015,” Nalinesh Nagaich, executive director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, Mumbai, told Deccan Herald.

From the first date of construction, when concrete is first poured into an excavated site, it may take five and a half years for the first unit to be ready and another six months for the second unit. Over the next one and a half years, NPCIL may excavate and prepare the ground for actual construction.

Once the first two units were ready, there might be two additional units at Gorakhpur, taking the total capacity of the nuclear power plant to 2,800 MW. However, units III and IV have not yet been sanctioned.

After Kaiga in north Karnataka, where the first unit became operational in 2000, Gorakhpur was the first greenfield site where an indigenous nuclear reactor would be installed for power production. Two more greenfield sites were under preparation in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Source

PM to lay foundation of 2,800 MW Nuclear Power Plant in Haryana tomorrow...

2014-01-02T20:22:00.001+05:30

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation of two key projects, including a national cancer institute, in Haryana's Jhajjar district tomorrow.

The foundation stone would be laid for a national cancer institute and Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said here today.

National Cancer Institute will be set up at Bhadsa and Global Centre at Jassaur Khedi village.

He said that the Prime Minister will be giving gift of projects of about Rs 3,000 crore to Haryana.

The 710-bedded Cancer Hospital at Bhadsa will cost about Rs 2,035 crore in first phase and will be ready in a period of 45 months.

The hospital will work under AIIMS, New Delhi and later Cancer Hospital of AIIMS will be shifted here, he said.

Deepender said that the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership will be the first global university dedicated to nuclear science.

It will have a nuclear research centre of international importance, he added.

Global Centre will be constructed in an area of about 225 acre and will cost about Rs 800 crore. Under this Centre, five colleges related with nuclear science research will be established, he said.

Deepender said that the Prime Minister will also be laying foundation stone of four lane Bahadurgarh-Gurgaon road.

Besides, he will also lay foundation stone of government girls college in Jassaur Khedi village.

He said that the Prime Minister will also be laying the foundation stone of the Nuclear Power Plant at Gorakhpur, Fatehabad district in Haryana in January itself.

The 2,800 MW Nuclear Power Plant will cost about Rs 22,000 crore, the Congress MP said.

Source: Business Standard

Cost of nuclear power proving high, Department of Atomic Energy in a fix..

2013-12-25T20:32:00.001+05:30

As the cost of electricity generation by nuclear power plants, to be set up with the help of French and American companies, is turning out to be on the higher side, the Department of Atomic Energy is in a fix over how to bring down the cost.

On one hand, it is involved in hard negotiations with the companies and on the other hand, sources said, if the cost per unit turns out to be too expensive, then it may not even pursue the project with collaborators. The estimated cost by the DAE for Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP) in Maharashtra is around Rs 9 per unit while the cost for Mithi Virdhi nuclear power project is around Rs 12 per unit.

Currently, the DAE is in negotiations with French company Areva to build six EPR reactors of 1650 MW each at Jaitapur. Sources pointed out that initial estimates state the cost of the project to be around Rs 27-30 crore per megawatt and the cost per unit to be around Rs 9 per unit in 2021.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai last month, R K Sinha, DAE Secretary, had said a competitive per unit tariff of Rs 6.50 has been estimated in the year of completion of Jaitapur project in 2020-21.

In the case of Mithi Virdhi project where American company Westinghouse Electric is providing AP-1000 reactors, the cost per megawatt is coming to around Rs 40 crores while the cost per unit is around Rs 12.

Although this project is yet to reach the advanced negotiations stage, the DAE has already signed an Early Works Agreement with Westinghouse Electric.

The DAE is skeptical about the proposal due to its high cost. It states that the cost per unit from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) unit 1 and 2 is around Rs 3.50 to Rs 4 per unit.

"If we take inflation into consideration, even then the cost is very high. We are also answerable to people. Plus, there is a lot of opposition to nuclear projects where we have foreign collaborators.

If nothing works out, then we will, perhaps, have to back out because of the high electricity generation cost from the project," a senior DAE official said.

Source

PM to Lay Foundation Stone of Haryana Nuclear Plant in January...

2013-12-19T20:02:00.001+05:30

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone of Rs 23,502 crore nuclear power plant, to be set up at Gorakhpur in Haryana's Fatehabad district, in January next year.

The Prime Minister would also address a public meeting after laying the foundation stone of the plant, Additional Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), C B S Venkataramanna said today.

About 1,503 acres of land has been acquired for setting up the plant and compensation amounting to Rs 450 crore has been given to the farmers whose land was acquired, a Haryana government release quoted Venkataramanna as saying.

Scientists of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) have conducted various surveys and tests at the site of the plant, he said.

The setting up of this plant would accelerate the pace of development and new ventures would come up which would lead to creation of jobs and increase income of the people, the release said.

It said the Gorakhpur-Kajalheri road would soon be constructed along the plant so as to provide better connectivity to the people.

Gorakhpur village would be developed as a Model Village under Corporate Social Responsibility and for this, a detailed action plan has been provided to NPCIL which would cover various issues like development of village, training to youths, women's development, education and health.

The area is home to several wildlife species and special arrangements have been made for their conservation.

Directions have been issued in this regard to NPCIL so that better and safe places could be provided for the wildlife species, it said.

Source

Atomic regulators meet discusses Russian VVER reactors...

2013-12-13T15:45:00.001+05:30

The 20th meeting of the VVER (Russian atomic reactor) Regulators Forum hosted by India for the first time concluded Friday at Kanyakumari, said a senior Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) official.

The forum was founded in 1993 and consists of atomic regulators from various countries where the Russian designed VVER nuclear reactors operate or are being set up.

India's atomic power company Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is setting up two VVER reactors of 1,000 MW capacity at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here.

The three-day meeting began Dec 11 and concluded Friday.

"Regulators who attended the conference submitted a report on the VVER reactors in their countries. India too submitted its report. The reports are not public. The reports basically deal with policy related aspects," AERB Secretary R. Bhattacharya told IANS over phone from Kanyakumari.

He said the forum also discussed the additional safety measures taken after the nuclear accident that happened in Fukushima in Japan.

The forum was attended by 14 foreign delegates and chaired by AERB Chairman S.S. Bajaj.

The forum consists of nuclear regulatory organisations from Armenia, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Iran, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine and India.

Speaking about the first unit at Kudankulam that has started power generation, Bhattacharya said the unit is working well.

"There are no reactor safety related issues. There was some issue with the secondary equipment which has been sorted out," Bhattacharya said.

Permission to generate power up to 50 percent (500 MW) of the rated capacity has been given August 2013 which is valid till Jan, 2014.

He said Finland has expressed its wish to host the next meeting of the VVER Regulators Forum and a decision on it will be taken later.

Source

Nuclear Power Corporation to set up 1,400 MW plant at Gorakhpur...

2013-12-11T15:04:00.001+05:30

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is planning to set up 2X700 MW nuclear power project at Gorakhpur site in Fatchabad district of Haryana.

NPCIL has already sought the approval of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the purpose. NPCIL is currently setting up four reactors of 700 MW at Kakrapar, Gujarat and Rawatbhata, Rajasthan.

Natural uranium oxide or slightly enriched uranium is proposed to be used as fuel along with heavy water as coolant and moderator for the reactor.

NPCIL which has already set up 4,460 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) technology, estimates the cost of the proposed plant at Rs. 20,594 crore to be funded with a debt equity ratio of 70:30. NPCIL plans to issue tax free bonds at the rate of 8.5% to finance the project cost which will bring down the interest during construction period substantially. Equity funding by the government will be to the extent of Rs. 6,179 crore.

NPCIL expects to commission the first unit in 63 months from the zero date and the second unit in six months after the commissioning of the first unit. If all milestones are met the first unit may go critical by September 2020.

Source

Investment in Nuclear Energy Sector during the last three years for Department of Atomic Energy...

2013-12-10T20:14:00.001+05:30

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has informed that during the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 an estimated investment of around Rs. 74,629 crore was made in renewable energy sector.

It includes an expenditure of around Rs. 10,329 crore from Central Plan Outlay of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

Department of Atomic Energy has informed that total amount of investment made in the Nuclear Energy Sector over the last three years is as under:

2012-13 : Rs.4946 crore
2011-12 : Rs.4153 crore.
2010-11 : Rs.2540 crore

The amount is inclusive of Government Support and Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources under Demand No.5 Nuclear Power Schemes.

Department of Atomic Energy has informed that the total Government spending for the development of the Nuclear Sector over the last three years.

2012-13 : Rs.16456 crore
2011-12 : Rs.20484 crore*
2010-11 : Rs.12220 crore

This amount is inclusive of Plan and Non-Plan Budgetary Support and Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources under Demand No.4 Atomic Energy and Demand No.5 Nuclear Power Schemes. This also includes the expenditure incurred for the Research & Development activities carried out by various Constituent Units of the Department as well as Autonomous Bodies. Apart from the projects and schemes related to Nuclear Power Programme, the spending includes projects on radiation technologies and advanced technologies and their applications, schemes on basic and applied research and exploration, mining and milling of uranium and other fertile materials, industrial scale production of nuclear fuel and heavy water and infrastructure and housing. The activities of research-education linkage, research on cancer, cancer medicine, implementation of atomic energy in the field of agriculture, nuclear waste management are also included in the above amount.

(*This includes arrears of book adjustment of Rs 5900 crore — Interest on Heavy Water Pool Management — a departmental commercial entity.)

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena, in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source

Tamil Nadu Industries seeks all the power from Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant...

2013-12-02T11:37:00.001+05:30

Industries in the Coimbatore region have demanded the full utilisation of power generated from the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant until the power crisis ended for the state, besides emphasising equal distribution of power supply across the state.

“As the whole state has been suffering without power, it should first be fully utilised for the benefit of the state. The situation in the industries in the region has gone worse due to power crisis and the recent announcements of power generated from the nuclear power plant will be heartwarming if fully utilised for Tamil Nadu,” said S Ravikumar, president, Coimbatore Tirupur District Micro and Cottage Entrepreneurs Association (COTMA).

When the plant had begun generating electricity in the state, against much odds, why not consider its first utilisation for the state itself, when power crisis had been crippling industries for the past five years, asked J James, president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Micro Enterprises (TACT). It was the common demand not from industries but from all sections of people that it had to be utilised fully for the state to lift it up from the situation.

Industries said that though there was a two-hour power cut announced for Chennai, it was only to pacify those in the districts as they were demanding equal distribution across the state. The industries here were left without power for over seven hours a day. “There should be some equality in meeting the demands of people in all the districts, and not one should be favoured over the other,” said TACT.

‘30% powerloom production hit due to power cuts’

Erode: Powerloom industry in Tamil Nadu has suffered 30 per cent production loss due to power cuts in the past one month, a top official of the Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) said on Sunday. There were 4.5 lakh powerlooms functioning in the state and they usually produce 50 lakh metres of cloth daily. But in the past one month, the industry along with others had been badly hit by power shutdown, bringing down the production by 30 per cent, PDEXCIL Vice-Chairman (South) V.T. Karunanidhi said. Due to the decrease in production, the powerloom owners were facing heavy financial loss as they were not able to complete the orders taken, he told reporters here.

All Traders Associations of Erode District Chairman N Sivanesan said because of the "undeclared" powercut industries, including small scale, were incurring huge loss.

The power situation in the state, which improved in the middle of the year, has again become bad forcing the government to re-introduce load-shedding in Chennai from this month in view of increased power cut in other parts of the state. Complaining that central generating units alone accounted for 2500 MW shortfall in the past one month, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has petitioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention to restore normalcy.

Source

Nuclear capacity addition of 63,000 MW by 2032 achievable, AEC chairman...

2013-11-28T15:22:00.001+05:30

Notwithstanding the rising opposition on safety considerations, concerns over the civil nuclear liability regime and the time taken for land acquisition and negotiations, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Department of Atomic Energy see increasing India's nuclear capacity to 63,000 MW by 2032 from the present level of 4,780 MW is still achievable.

AEC chairman RK Sinha said that the country is pursuing the capacity addition through the indigenously manufactured reactors and also by imported ones.

Sinha, after inaugurating the India Nuclear Energy Summit here, told reporters that currerntly there are seven nuclear plants under different stages of developments. These include two units of Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu (2x1000 MW), Kakrapar, Gujarat (2x700 MW), Rawatbhata, Rajasthan (2x700 MW) and proto type fast breeder reactor of 500 MW at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. This will increase the nuclear capacity to 10,080 MW by 2017.

Besides, the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation is in the midst of talks to procure light water reactors with unit sizes ranging between 1,000 & 1,650 MW with foreign collaborations, Sinha said.

Sinha argued that nuclear energy is safe and secure and quite crucial for country's sustainable growth.

He admitted that suppliers -both domestic and international- have expressed concerns with regard to India's civil nuclear liability act and civil liability for nuclear damages rules. "Our Act is quite clear whereby operator of a nuclear plant will be liable for nuclear damage upto Rs 1,500 crore. However, there is a provision of right to recourse by operator. Most of the suppliers are concerned over whether they will have to bear more than Rs 1,500 crore towards liability. Efforts are on to allay their concerns,'' he noted.

On the current state of 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra, Sinha informed that the negotiations were on between NPC and Areva. He admitted that affordability and competitive cost are key factors being considered during negotiations.

"We had estimated the per unit tariff of Rs 6.50 in the year of completion of Jaitapur project in 2020-21. The per unit tariff be competitive in comparision with other sources of power," he said.

Source

Canadian nuclear Power firms visiting India for business...

2013-11-28T09:55:00.001+05:30

The Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCI) and a delegation of leading Canadian companies will be visiting Mumbai this week to discuss potential business opportunities for Canada's nuclear industry.

The visit will be in cooperation with the Ontario ministry of economic development, trade and employment and the High Commission of Canada, an official statement said in Ottawa.

The growing demand for high quality services and equipment in India's nuclear energy sector represents a promising export market for Canadian nuclear suppliers, notably in Ontario.

Joining the OCI on the trade mission are nine companies that manufacture specialised nuclear equipment and provide unique engineering services.

The private-sector delegates are also being joined by representatives from Ontario Power Generation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the statement said.

"The Canadian team in Mumbai this week reflects the strong collaboration among industry, provincial and federal governments in bringing the full spectrum of Canadian nuclear energy capability to the world stage," said OCI president Ron Oberth.

The trade mission will provide Canadian suppliers with unique insights into potential opportunities in India through meetings and events arranged by the High Commission of Canada in India.

These would include a high level business forum in Mumbai hosted by the Canada-India Business Council Nov 29, the statement said.

The OCI is an association of 185 leading Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and the international marketplace.

Canada had announced Sep 30 the coming into force of a nuclear cooperation agreement with India, which would permit Canadian companies to reach the Indian market for Canadian uranium, nuclear technology, services and equipment.

India and Canada had signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2010.

Source

Kudankulam Nuclear Plant's generating capacity increased to 370 MW...

2013-11-27T09:59:00.001+05:30

The first unit (1000 MWe) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), is now generating 370 MWe and electricity is being wheeled into the southern grid, according to R.S. Sundar, Site Director, Kudankulam-1 and 2.

Two Russian reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MWe, had been built at the KKNPP in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

The first one, which went critical on July 13, was now stabilising and it would generate its full power in January 2014, he said.

“We are monitoring all parameters and we are reporting them stage-wise to the regulatory authorities,” he said. Electricity from unit-1 first started flowing into the grid on October 22.

The second unit would be commissioned in next June or July.

Dummy fuel were loaded into the second unit a few months ago, Mr. Sundar said.

Out of 2,000 MWe to be generated from the two units, Tamil Nadu will receive 925 MWe, Karnataka 442 MWe, Kerala 266 MWe and Puducherry 67 MWe. The remaining remains as yet unallocated.

The two reactors, called VVER-1000 are built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). While their original cost was Rs.13,171 crore, the revised cost is Rs.17,270 crore.

The NPCIL will build two more such reactors at Kudankulam. Officials from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) said the third and fourth units would cost more than Rs. 39,000 crore — almost at Rs. 20 crore for a MWe. Fifth and sixth units will also come up at Kudankulam.

Source

Andhra coast unsafe for N-power plant: Expert...

2013-11-25T17:01:00.001+05:30

A coastal site in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district, earmarked for locating imported nuclear power plants, is unsuitable from the safety point of view, cautions a leading tsunami expert.

Pune-based seismologist Arun Bapat's calculations show that in the event of a tsunami arising from a high-intensity earthquake in the Sumatra region -- similar to the deadly Dec 26, 2004, quake - the Kovvada site will suffer considerable damage because much of the tsunami energy will be directed towards it.

Instead, the location of the nuclear plants could be shifted further north near Paradip in Odisha "which could be an ideal site", Bapat, who has analyzed the past tsunamis affecting India, said.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India has assigned the Kovvada site to the US-based firm GE Hitachi for building six Boiling Water Reactors to generate total power of 9,564 MW of power. The contract is yet to be firmed up.

Bapat is one of the associate scientists of the International Earthquake and Volcano Prediction Center based in Orlando, Florida, in the US. He had predicted the Dec 26, 2004, tsunami long before it happened.

According to Bapat, the occurrence of tsunamis is a result of large magnitude earthquakes. "The large geological or tectonic faults in the Sumatran and Andaman regions have generated a number of moderate to large magnitude earthquakes during the last 100 years or so," he said in a recent report published in the journal Current Science.

"If we know the fault plane solutions of these past historical seismic events, then the likely direction of tsunami waves could be easily determined," he says.

As a thumb rule, he says, the energy and height of tsunami waves are minimum in the direction along which the fault ruptures, and are highest at right angles to the direction of rupture.

Bapat points out that the proposed location of atomic plants on the Andhra coast "is at about 40 to 45 degrees to the direction of rupture" of fault in the Sumatran region and hence vulnerable to tsunamis.

Paradip in the Orissa coast lies almost in the direction of rupture and hence is less at risk.

In support of this analysis, Bapat points out that during the Dec 26, 2004, earthquake, the rupture extended towards northwest along the Sunda trench for 1,200 km to the Andaman Islands.

The resulting tsunami severely damaged the Nagapattinam area on the east coast of India that was almost at right angles to the northwest end of the rupture.

The city of Galle in Sri Lanka and the Thailand coast that was at right angles to the direction of rupture also suffered heavy damages while Cocos Island, which was roughly in the direction of rupture, recorded tsunami waves of only 42 cm.

He says the analysis also explains why Kolkata, Sundarbans and Bangladesh -- lying almost in the direction of the rupture -- did not suffer from the tsunami attack.

Source

New order on reporting nuclear incidents for Nuclear Energy Operators issued by AERB...

2013-11-20T13:41:00.001+05:30

Amid debate over safety of nuclear installations, a new order has been issued to operators to report "extraordinary nuclear events", including radiation and leakage of radioactive material, to the atomic regulator within 24 hours of the incident.

Seeking to remove any confusion, the order makes it clear that the reporting of the extraordinary nuclear events will be in addition to, "and in no way in derogation of the existing regulatory mechanism" of reporting of events to the regulator.

According to a latest order of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), operator of the nuclear installation will report extraordinary nuclear event (ENE) either in the installation or during transportation of radioactive material to the regulator within 24 hours of the occurrence.

The AERB order also stipulates that a detailed report of the nuclear incident should be conveyed to the regulator within 10 days.

The order has been issued under various provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage rules, 2011.

The ENEs described in the order include any incident resulting in stack release of radioactivity 500 times or more of the annual release limit prescribed in technical specifications for operation of the plant.

The operator will also have to inform about incidents where in one or more person off site (away from the facility) "were, could have been, or might be" exposed to radiation or to radioactive material.

Also, any incident which leads to injury or death of a person off site due to exposure to ionizing radiation emanating from a nuclear installation will also have to reported.

Source

India says domestic plant operators can limit global nuclear suppliers' liability...

2013-11-19T10:48:00.001+05:30

To allay global nuclear suppliers' fears about India's nuclear liability laws that have deterred potential investors, the country is now telling the world's nuclear industry that the domestic plant operator can limit the amount as well as duration of the liability that accrues to foreign suppliers.

Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, a close associate of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, conveyed this interpretation of the 2010 nuclear liability law in a meeting with Canada' industry leaders late last month.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance had worked overtime in its first innings to secure a new nuclear cooperation regime after decades of global isolation, but it has been unable to jumpstart its massive nuclear power agenda as vendors from around the world have stopped in their tracks over what they have labelled as unviable liability laws.

India, Australia to hold talks for civil nuclear power co-operation on 26-27 November...

2013-11-19T10:23:00.001+05:30

Australia and India are to hold the third round of their civil nuclear cooperation talks Nov 26-27 to pave the way for early conclusion of the agreement, visiting Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in New Delhi on Monday after talks with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Australia would also support India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Bishop said during a joint press conference.

The two sides inked two agreements, including a statement of intent between the Australian government and Nalanda University.

Bishop said both sides hoped to conclude the civil nuclear cooperation negotiations that would pave the way for the sale of Australian uranium to India.

She said both sides are negotiating in "good faith" and added that the Tony Abbot government, which took office after elections in September, is in favour of selling uranium to India.

Australia and India are also planning to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement, she said.

Khurshid said both sides were looking to schedule a visit early next year of new Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to India.

"We are looking at an early slot for him to come down next year," he said.

The visit was being planned amid indications that Abbott "wants to begin his term with a fruitful visit to India", he said.

Australia and India are also increasing air connectivity with Air India deciding to start direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne and Air Australia planning to launch direct flights to India, said Khurshid.

The external affairs minister said Indian business had an "impressive footprint" on Australian soil and hoped that a larger number of Indian companies will invest in Australia.

An Indian-Australian CEOs' forum is to meet soon, he said.

Bishop said she wanted to visit India early in her tenure "to show the significance we attach to ties with India".

She said the "ambitious" free trade agreement (FTA) they planned to negotiate would be mutually beneficial.

As part of their deepening engagement in security cooperation, the navies of the two countries are to hold joint exercises.

Both sides also discussed cooperation in counter-terrorism and cyber security.

In the field of energy security, Bishop said India could count on Australia for its "trusted and reliable support" for its needs, including coal, LNG and civil nuclear energy cooperation.

Bishop said there were "no specific time lines" in concluding the civil nuclear agreement with India and both were "waiting to get it right".

Energy-starved India aims to upgrade its nuclear power generation capacity to 20,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020.

Australia has one of the largest known uranium reserves in the world.

Australia, a key member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, had earlier been opposed to selling uranium to India as New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It reversed its policy in 2011.

Bishop also said her country welcomes Indians coming to Australia to pursue higher education.

As part of wooing bright Indian minds to that country, the Abbott government has proposed a new programme under which students can pursue internship with a business company, she said.

Source

India committed to highest safety standards at its nuclear plants...

2013-11-08T11:28:00.001+05:30

India has said it is committed to implementing the highest safety standards at its nuclear power plants as it seeks to harness the benefits of atomic energy to meet its growing energy requirements.

"Nuclear power remains an important option not only for countries with existing nuclear programmes, but also for developing countries with growing energy requirements," visiting BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha said in his statement to the UN General Assembly on the 2012 annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

India has co-sponsored the draft resolution on the IAEA report.

Sinha said India is committed to implementing the "highest standards for the safety of Indian nuclear power plants and the associated fuel cycle facilities."

The country would also continue to participate and assist the IAEA Secretariat in its endeavor to enhance nuclear safety through various measures.

Sinha stressed that India is committed to harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy for electricity production while ensuring that highest priority is given to nuclear safety and security.

"India will need to rapidly raise the energy production to meet its growing energy requirements to achieve its developmental goals. The energy resources at our disposal make it imperative for us to consider all energy options," he said at the UNGA on November 5.

He said nuclear energy has a crucial role to play in achieving objectives of India's sustainable economic growth.

The country is also extensively engaged in development of nuclear technologies in fields extending beyond nuclear power, including isotope applications for improved crop varieties, crop protection and post-harvest technologies, radio-isotope applications for diagnostic and theraupetic uses in healthcare and technologies for safe drinking water.

He pointed out that currently there are 21 Nuclear Power Plant units operating in India and construction of four units of 700 MWe pressurized heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) is under progress at the Kakrapar and Rawatbhata sites in Rajasthan.

India has also setup two Voda Voda Energo Reactor (VVER) based NPPs at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, with the co-operation of Russia.

The power would be further raised to 1000 MWe in stages, increasing the nuclear power contribution in the country to about 5800 MWe. India is also setting-up 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam.

Source

Nuclear power needed to slow global warming: Experts...

2013-11-04T12:19:00.001+05:30

Some of the world's top climate scientists say wind and solar energy won't be enough to head off extreme global warming, and they're asking environmentalists to support the development of safer nuclear power as one way to cut fossil fuel pollution.

Four scientists who have played a key role in alerting the public to the dangers of climate change sent letters Sunday to leading environmental groups and politicians around the world. The letter, an advance copy of which was given to The Associated Press, urges a crucial discussion on the role of nuclear power in fighting climate change.

Environmentalists agree that global warming is a threat to ecosystems and humans, but many oppose nuclear power and believe that new forms of renewable energy will be able to power the world within the next few decades.

That isn't realistic, the letter said.

"Those energy sources cannot scale up fast enough'' to deliver the amount of cheap and reliable power the world needs, and "with the planet warming and carbon dioxide emissions rising faster than ever, we cannot afford to turn away from any technology'' that has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases.

The letter signers are James Hansen, a former top Nasa scientist; Ken Caldeira, of the Carnegie Institution; Kerry Emanuel, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Tom Wigley, of the University of Adelaide in Australia.

Hansen began publishing research on the threat of global warming more than 30 years ago, and his testimony before Congress in 1988 helped launch a mainstream discussion. Last February he was arrested in front of the White House at a climate protest that included the head of the Sierra Club and other activists. Caldeira was a contributor to reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Emanuel is known for his research on possible links between climate change and hurricanes, and Wigley has also been doing climate research for more than 30 years.

Emanuel said the signers aren't opposed to renewable energy sources but want environmentalists to understand that "realistically, they cannot on their own solve the world's energy problems.''

The vast majority of climate scientists say they're now virtually certain that pollution from fossil fuels has increased global temperatures over the last 60 years. They say emissions need to be sharply reduced to prevent more extreme damage in the future.

In 2011 worldwide carbon dioxide emissions jumped 3 percent, because of a large increase by China, the No. 1 carbon polluting country. The US is No. 2 in carbon emissions.

Hansen, who's now at Columbia University, said it's not enough for environmentalists to simply oppose fossil fuels and promote renewable energy.

"They're cheating themselves if they keep believing this fiction that all we need'' is renewable energy such as wind and solar, Hansen told the AP.

The joint letter says, "The time has come for those who take the threat of global warming seriously to embrace the development and deployment of safer nuclear power systems'' as part of efforts to build a new global energy supply.

Stephen Ansolabehere, a Harvard professor who studies energy issues, said nuclear power is "very divisive'' within the environmental movement. But he added that the letter could help educate the public about the difficult choices that climate change presents.

One major environmental advocacy organization, the Natural Resources Defense Council, warned that "nuclear power is no panacea for our climate woes."

Risk of catastrophe is only one drawback of nuclear power, NRDC President Frances Beinecke said in a statement. Waste storage and security of nuclear material are also important issues, he said.

"The better path is to clean up our power plants and invest in efficiency and renewable energy."

The scientists acknowledge that there are risks to using nuclear power, but say those are far smaller than the risk posed by extreme climate change.

"We understand that today's nuclear plants are far from perfect."

Source

India, Australia to hold 3rd round of talks on nuclear deal...

2013-11-02T10:16:00.001+05:30

India and Australia are to hold the third round of negotiations to finalise a civil nuclear agreement that could enable the sale of Australian uranium to India, in Delhi during the week beginning November 25, it was announced on Friday.

A statement issued by the Australian Foreign Ministry after talks between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, Salman Khurshid and Julie Bishop in Perth, states that they have agreed that the conclusion of a high-quality Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement would underpin a further significant expansion of the trade and investment relationship to mutual benefit.

Bishop also briefed Khurshid on the Australian Government’s commitment to open trade and investment policies and welcomed further Indian investment into Australia, the statement adds.

The Ministers also confirmed that the inaugural cyber security dialogue would be held in the first half of 2014, and reiterated the two countries’ commitment to work together to address threats such as terrorism and transnational crime.

Source

India will not halt nuclear programme...

2013-11-01T16:42:00.001+05:30

India will continue its nuclear programme without any interruption, irrespective of decisions taken by other countries, said R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy on Wednesday.

Referring to Germany and Japan, which plan to end their dependence on nuclear energy, Dr. Sinha said India had no reason to follow these countries.

“We have been pursuing our nuclear programme on our own. We are in the process of establishing new nuclear power plants across India, without being dependent on any foreign country. There is no question of following them and halting our nuclear programme,” as said by Dr. Sinha. He said the Japanese government may decide to return to nuclear power in future, after completing security inspections.

On the proposed 9900 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant to be set up in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, Dr. Sinha said the techno-commercial agreement with the French company Areva was yet to be signed and negotiations had not been concluded.

Areva will be providing six European Pressurised Reactors to this project, the work on which is expected to begin by October 2015.

“The issues such as deciding the cost of electricity and the liability are pending. But we are confident that the issues will be resolved and we will not miss the deadline,” he said.

Earlier, Dr. Sinha delivered an address at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the late Homi Jahangir Bhabha.

He said improved uranium supply from domestic and international sources had led to the growth of nuclear power generation.

“As a result of using advanced techniques, we have been able to identify new resources of uranium. In the last year our reserves have registered an increase of about 5 per cent,” he said.

On the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, he said commercial operations of one unit would start by December 2013.

Source

Kundankulam N-Plant starts generating power...

2013-10-22T16:55:00.001+05:30

The Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant at Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu has started generating power from its Unit 1 and produced around 160 MW of Power on October 22, 2013.

Unit 1 having capacity of 1000 MW is a new type of reactor built in Russia called Voda Voda Energo Reactor (VVER). It became critical in the midnight of July 13 and since then, various tests and procedures have been conducted to resolve problems with the valves.

It is the first pressurized water reactor belonging to light water reactor category in the country. Russian authorities claim they have such reactors functioning in Ukraine, China and a few other nations. In Ukraine alone, there are six units of 1,000MW capacity at Zaporizhzhia, which are similar to that of the Kudankulam unit.

As said by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), currently out of the 1000 MW capacity of this Unit, 160 MW is connected to the grid which will be increased after checking the generators and conducting other tests. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has given its nod for 500MW and more power will be connected to the grid after the tests.

The significant synchronization process came as Prime Minister wound up his visit to Moscow after talks about possible future agreements for the supply of two more Russian reactors for the Kudankulam plant. While agreements have been signed for two 1,000MW units, talks are on with Russia to clinch a deal for two more 1,000MW units. When commissioned, the nuclear power plant would be the biggest in India in terms of capacity.

More literature on this...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/kudankulam-nuclear-plant-starts-generating-power-connected-to-southern-grid/articleshow/24521878.cms

India & US clinched a first commercial agreement on civil nuclear power co-operation...

2013-09-30T13:21:00.001+05:30

India and United States have clinched a first commercial agreement on the civilian nuclear power co-operation after the landmark civil nuclear deal five years before.

Later in a joint statement, the two leaders noted that with government-to-government procedures agreed, commercial negotiations between India's nuclear operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and US firm Westinghouse are proceeding.

A fact sheet issued by the White House said this agreement should facilitate progress toward licensing the AP-1000 nuclear reactor technology in India.

Noting that the Indian government is planning to develop commercial nuclear power sites in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh using US nuclear technology, it said both governments also decided to complete discussions on the Administrative Arrangements at an early date.

The two leaders urged NPCIL and US companies Westinghouse and General Electric-Hitachi to expedite the necessary work to establish nuclear power plants in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Indian Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) intend to sign a memorandum of understanding for the exchange of technical information in nuclear safety matters, the fact sheet said.

This arrangement should solidify close cooperation between the regulators, it noted.

More literature on this...

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-28/news/42481705_1_npcil-nuclear-power-corporation-nuclear-liability-law

Nuclear & Solar are the only alternatives to meet India's energy needs as per former chairman of atomic Energy Commission...

2013-08-11T22:07:00.001+05:30

According to the former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr. Anil Kakodkar, nuclear energy and solar energy are the only energy sources which can meet the energy requirements of India.

According to him, India has to bring its per capita electricity production on par with that in the advanced countries if it has to emerge as an economic super power.

Currently, we are almost 14-15 times behind in comparison with advanced countries in this segment. The average per capita electricity production in an industrially advanced nation is at around 10,000 units, where as in India it is at around 800 units per person

The Planning Commission has set a target of adding over 88,000 MW of power generation capacity in the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-2017).

More literature on this...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/only-nuclear-and-solar-power-can-meet-indias-needs-kakodkar/article5012595.ece