Lok Sabha Question No. 226 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Nuclear Power Plants
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, P.P. Chaudhary, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.226

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2022

## NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

226. SHRI  BRIJBHUSHAN SHARAN  SINGH:

SHRI  P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and number of operational nuclear reactors, nuclear reactors under construction,  nuclear  reactors  proposed  and  the  expected  timeline  for  these projects;
- (b) the details of combined energy generation capacity of the operational nuclear power plants and the percentage of their overall energy supply contribution in the country;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to enlarge the usage of Thorium for the development of technologies for the third stage of the nuclear  power programme; and
- (d) if so, the details of steps taken in this regard and the expected timeline for the same?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  There  are  presently  22  reactors  with  a  total  capacity  of  6780  MW  in operation and one reactor, KAPP-3 (700 MW) has been connected to the grid  on  January  10,  2021.  There  are  10  reactors  [including  500  MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor(PFBR) being implemented by Bharatiya Nabhikiya  Vidyut  Nigam  Ltd.  (BHAVINI)  totaling  to  8000  MW  under construction at various stages and the  Government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of 10 more reactors  totaling  to  7000  MW,  to  be  set  up  in  fleet  mode.  The  projects under construction and accorded sanction are expected to be completed

progressively  by  2031.  More  nuclear  power  plants  are  also  planned  in future.

- (b)  The present installed nuclear power  capacity is 6780  MW  and  it contributes about 3% of the total electricity generation in the country.
- (c)  &(d) Yes, Sir. A three-stage nuclear power programme, based on a closed nuclear  fuel  cycle  has  been  chalked  out  to  use  thorium  as  a  viable  and sustainable option at  the  inception  of  India's  nuclear  power  programme. The three-stage nuclear power programme aims to multiply the domestically available fissile resource through the use of natural uranium in  Pressurised  Heavy  Water  Reactors,  followed  by  use  of  plutonium obtained from the spent fuel of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors in Fast Breeder  Reactors.  The  third  stage  of  Indian  nuclear  power  programme which contemplates making use of Uranium-233 to fuel Thorium Uranium233 based reactors, can provide energy independence to the country for several centuries. All efforts towards technology development and demonstration  are  being  made  now,  so  that  a  mature  technology  is available in time.

Indigenous  efforts  towards  development  and  demonstration  of  Thoriumbased reactor technology are well underway with BARC-designed Advanced  Heavy  Water  Reactor  (AHWR,  300  MWe).  This  300  MWe reactor using thorium based fuel will serve as a technology demonstrator not  only  for  the  thorium  fuel  cycle  technologies,  but  also  for  several advanced passive safety features. In order to facilitate an early scrutiny of the innovative features of the design from the safety considerations, a PreLicensing Design Safety appraisal of the reactor has been completed by the  Atomic  Energy  Regulatory  Board.  Construction  of  this  reactor  can begin  after  associated  statutory  clearances,  regulatory  clearances  and financial sanction for the project are obtained. It is expected  that construction time will be in line with the time required for constructing our Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).

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