GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1516 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11/03/2010

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1 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1516 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 USE OF THORIUM FOR NUCLEAR POWER PRODUCTION 1516 SHRI SHREE GOPAL VYAS: SHRI RAGHUNANDAN SHARMA: the status of use of thorium in obtaining of atomic energy; the target fixed in Eleventh Five Year Plan with regard thereto; and if so, the details thereof? Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has set up a research reactor KAMINI at Kalpakkam using Uranium-233 fuel obtained from irradiated Thorium which is operating since DAE has developed the design for a 300 MWe Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) to generate most of its power from Thorium based fuel, as a demonstrator for Thorium related technologies. & During XI Five Year Plan, a range of activities pertaining to systems and technologies relevant for Thorium utilisation have been taken up. The design and development of main nuclear systems of AHWR have been completed. Large scale engineering experiments for the simulation of important thermal hydraulic parameters of its natural circulation driven cooling system have led to a better understanding of various associated phenomena. *

2 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1517 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 SHORTAGE OF URANIUM FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS 1517 SHRI B.K. HARIPRASAD: whether only three out of India s seventeen nuclear reactors are working to their full capacity due to critical shortage of indigenously produced uranium; whether the three working reactors source their supplies of uranium from abroad especially France; whether India has set a target of production of nuclear energy at 20,000 mw by 2020; and if so, the contingency measures on the anvil to solve the shortage of indigenously produced uranium? & There are 18 nuclear power reactors in operation in the country. Out of these, 4 reactors use imported fuel and operate at full capacity. Fuel has been imported from France and Russia for these reactors. Other reactors operate at maximum of 70% of their capacity due to shortage of indigenously produced uranium. Reaching a total nuclear power capacity of 20,000 MW by 2020 is possible. The capacity of about 20,000 MW will be fueled through a mix of indigenous and imported uranium. While long term fuel supply agreements would be entered into for reactors to be set up based on international cooperation, efforts are being made to augment domestic fuel supply by opening of new mines and augmenting ore processing facilities. ********

3 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1518 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 COMPENSATION IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS IN NUCLEAR PLANTS 1518 SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD: SHRI SHIVANAND TIWARI: whether it is a fact that it has been accepted in principle that in the event of accidents in atomic energy projects set up by foreign companies in the country, the compensation would be awarded by Government of India; if so, the facts thereof; and the steps Government has taken in this direction, so far? to The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 is likely to be introduced in the current session of Parliament. Such a legislation is important in order to safeguard interest of people of the country in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident and to promote the growth of nuclear industry in the country.

4 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1519 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 DECLINE IN NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION 1519 SHRI SHIVANAND TIWARI: SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD: whether it is a fact that atomic energy generation plants in the country have been able to generate less power than their installed generation capacity during the past months of ; if so, their generation capacity, plant and actual power generation by these project during the said period; whether this decline in production can be attributed to low availability of fuel; and if so, the facts thereof and the reasons for low availability of fuel? Yes, Sir. The current generation capacity is 4340 MW and the actual generation in upto February 2010 has been Million Units giving a capacity factor of about 60%. Yes, Sir. Decline in nuclear power production can partly be attributed to the low availability of indigenous uranium as fuel. Out of the capacity of 4340 MW, a capacity of 740 MW uses imported fuel and operates at full capacity. The remaining capacity uses indigenous fuel, of which there is a shortage. Increase of demand of uranium because of new capacity addition and longer time needed for opening of new uranium mines, ore processing mills and mis-match between the requirement and the indigenous production of uranium have caused the shortage. The situation is progressively improving.

5 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1520 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 PRIVATE SECTOR IN NUCLEAR POWER SECTOR 1520 SHRI N.R. GOVINDARAJAR: SHRI A. ELAVARASAN: whether the Government is considering to permit private sector in nuclear power sector and decided to provide all necessary resources for the nuclear power programme to increase the present nuclear capacity 4000 mw; and if so, the details thereof? & The Atomic Energy Act allows the Central Government to produce, develop, use and dispose of atomic energy wither by itself or through any authority or corporation established by it or a Government Company. As of today Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) & Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) are two Public Sector Undertakings authorized for this purpose. Private Sector can participate in setting up of nuclear power plants as a junior equity partner. Private sector in India is in a position to participate in setting up nuclear power plants through supply of components, equipment and works contracts. For the present participation of Indian private sector in nuclear power generation projects will continue to be as per the existing provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.

6 1521 SHRI SYED AZEEZ PASHA: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1521 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 INSTALLATION OF ATOMIC PLANTS whether there are any plans to expand atomic energy plants in the country through installation of more power generation capacity; the fresh steps which are being taken to increase generation of atomic energy in the short term; the targeted increase in the year 2011; (e) the funding requirement therefor; and the details thereof? Yes, Sir. & The current nuclear power capacity of 4340 MW will be increased to 7280 MW progressively by the March 2012 by the completion of projects under construction. Additional capacity of 2800 MW has been approved in the year More projects are also planned to be built during the 13 th Plan. & (e) The projects under construction are at an advanced stage of completion and the requirement of funds for these projects in the next two years ( and ) is estimated to be Rs.3619 crore. This will be met though a combination of internal resources, market borrowings and budgetary support. ***

7 1522 DR. RAM PRAKASH: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1522 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 ATOMIC PLANT IN HARYANA whether there is any proposal under consideration of Government to build an atomic energy generation plant in Haryana; if so, the details thereof; and the total cost of the project? to The Government has accorded in principle approval for setting up 4 x 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) at Kumharia in Fatehabad district of Haryana. Pre-project activities including land acquisition have been initiated. The detailed project report including cost estimates is yet to be finalized.

8 1523 SHRI NATUJI HALAJI THAKOR: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1523 TO BE ED ON 11/03/2010 NUCLEAR PLANT IN SURAT whether it is a fact that Government has decided to set up 2,000 MW of nuclear power plant in Surat with Central assistance to the meet the demands of the country; if so; whether it is also a fact that GSGENCO and National Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) are going to sign the agreement very soon; and if so, the details thereof? & No, Sir. Not applicable.

9 1525 SMT. MAYA SINGH: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 1525 TO BE ED ON SECURITY OF NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS whether the lack of coordination among security agencies and local police deployed for the security of nuclear complexes in the country has ever come forward; whether any type of accident has ever happened in nuclear plants of the country; whether Government feels the need of some improvements in the security of nuclear bases keeping in view the current terrorist accidents; and if so, the measures being taken by the Government? Co-ordination amongst security agencies deployed for security of nuclear sites and the local police is well maintained for effective security. India has to its credit 315 reactor years of safe operation. There were two minor incidents: (1) a fire at Narora Atomic Power Plant and (2) collapse of concrete shell from the dome of Kaiga Power Project during its construction, both of which were classified Level 1 ( Lowest : classified as Anomaly) in the International Nuclear Radiological Event Scale (INES) of IAEA. Security measures at Atomic Energy Establishments are regularly reviewed based on various inputs received from Central and State Agencies from time to time in order to effect improvements in integrated security systems. Adequate security arrangements exist and are updated periodically to protect Atomic Energy Establishments in the country. *