Lok Sabha Question No. 489 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-19
Subject: Indian Nuclear Power Programme
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 489

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2017

## INDIAN NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMME

489. SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI B.V. NAIK:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  appreciable  developments  and achievements  in  implementing  the  third  stage  of  Indian  nuclear  power programme;
- (b) if so, the details and the status thereof;
- (c) the  nuclear  power  projects  initiated  during  the  last  five  years  and  to  be initiated in near future with the collaboration of USA and Russia;
- (d) the amount  earmarked for this programme  and  the estimated power production to be generated by 2020; and
- (e) whether  nuclear  energy  production  would  slowly  replace  the  energy  from fossil fuels particularly coal and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a)&(b)  Substantial work  has  been  carried  out  in the areas  of  research  on technologies  for  utilisation  of  Thorium  in  nuclear  fuel  cycle,  and  on  the development  of  an  Advanced  Heavy  Water  Reactor  (AHWR),  for  use  of Thorium based fuel on a large scale.

Bhabha  Atomic  Research  Centre  (BARC),  a  constituent Unit of the Department of Atomic Energy has developed a design for Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), a Technology Demonstrator Reactor of 300 MW, for utilisation of Thorium.  The reactor is designed and developed to achieve large-scale use of Thorium for the generation of commercial nuclear power which  is  a  part  of  India's  three  stage  nuclear  power  programme.   Thus,

AHWR is not only a stepping stone to the third stage but also expected to provide a platform for developing and testing technologies required for the third stage.  AHWR is designed with the motto of highest level of safety and security.   The  Government,  in  December,  2016,  has  accorded  in-principle approval for the Tarapur Maharashtra Site (TMS) for locating the 300 MW Advanced Heavy Water Reactor.

- (c) During the last five years, KKNPP 3&4 (2X1000 MW) and KKNPP 5&6 (2 x 1000  MW) projects  at  Kudankulam,  Tamil  Nadu  being  set  up  in  technical cooperation with Russian Federation have been accorded financial sanction and administrative approval by the Government. The construction of KKNPP 3&4 has commenced and the General Framework Agreement for KKNPP 5&6 has been concluded.  In respect of setting up nuclear power projects in cooperation  with  the  USA,  discussions  with  M/s  Westinghouse  Electric Company (WEC) and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) have commenced to arrive at viable project proposals.
- (d) The approved completion cost of the KKNPP 3&4 (2X1000 MW) project is Rs.39849 crore and that of KKNPP 5&6 (2 x 1000 MW) is Rs.49621 crore. The project proposals of the other projects to be set up with Russian & US technical  cooperation  are  at  various  stages  of  discussion.  The  allocations will  be  made  project-wise  on  approval  of  the  projects.  These  projects  are expected to start power generation beyond 2020.
- (e) The role of nuclear power in the near term is to supplement generation from fossil fuel sources and in the long term, provide the country energy security. All energy sources including coal and nuclear will be deployed optimally to meet the country's growing electricity demand.

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