Atomic energy in India: a profile

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PIB Feature | 07 Jul, 2008
India entered the field of nuclear technology over four decades ago when it was just a fledgling science. During this period, the country has achieved technical competence in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle - from exploration of atomic minerals to waste management. Indigenisation and self-reliance in nuclear technology and development of commensurate materials and human resources have been the hallmarks of our atomic energy programme. India is amongst the few countries in the world which have the capability of designing, constructing and operating nuclear reactors - be it for electric power generation or for carrying out research in the field of atomic energy.

A wide range of benefits have accrued from the development of nuclear technology. These have been in diverse fields such as generation of electricity, use of radioisotopes in research, industry, medicine and agriculture, development of materials and electronics. During the past few years, several technologies have also been passed on to the Indian industries for commercial use so that the country at large could benefit from these technological spin offs.

While planning and implementing its programme, the Department of Atomic Energy has placed emphasis on social responsibilities towards community welfare, environmental protection, provision of employment and training opportunities, improvement of amenities and working conditions of its personnel, development of Indian industries and international cooperation.

Outfits:
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was constituted in 1948 as the policy making body of the Government for the development and utilisation of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The Atomic Energy Establishment (AEET) was set up at Trombay in 1957 and subsequently renamed as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), for carrying out research in basic sciences and developing nuclear technology based on indigenous resources.

The Indian nuclear power programme, launched in 1954, envisaged a three-stage development of nuclear power generation from the countryÕs uranium and thorium resources. The first stage programme consists of setting up of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). PHWRs are natural uranium-fuelled, heavy water moderated and cooled. The uranium reserves in the country are adequate to support the first stage nuclear power programme of 10,000 MWe through PHWRs. In addition to generating power, PHWRs progressively make available plutonium as a by-product. The technologies for the reprocessing of plutonium from spent PHWR fuel and for fabrication of plutonium bearing fuels have been systematically established in India through research and development over the past several years.

The second stage of the nuclear power programme consists of effective utilisation of plutonium in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) which will provide the key to full utilisation of the countryÕs uranium resources and prepare the way for the long-term utilisation of the more abundant thorium reserves. FBRs enable generation of more fresh fissile material than is consumed for power production. With the deployment of FBRs, the depleted uranium and plutonium generated in the first stage will permit an additional power potential to the extent of 3,50,000 MWe. During the later part of the second stage programme, it is proposed to use thorium as blanket material in FBRs to generate U-233, another fissile material for use in the third stage programme based on U-233 fuelled reactor systems. Research and development carried out in the Fuel Reprocessing Laboratories at Trombay has resulted in development of a procedure to recover U-233 from irradiated thorium fuel.

In addition to nuclear research and development, commercial nuclear power generation and application of nuclear techniques to agriculture, industry and medicine, the activities of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) also encompass:

Training and development of personnel in different fields of science and technology related to atomic energy programme and development of industries, both in the public and private sectors, to cater to nuclear needs of high integrity and quality are among its important activities.

The Department transfers technology from research centres to industries. It also plans and implements pilot and demonstration projects to establish the viability of technologies relating to nuclear power, fuel cycle, medicine and agriculture and assistance, both financial and otherwise, to academic and research institutions for promoting science and technology in general as well as those specific to the atomic energy programme.

The main thrust of the Department's research and development effort is directed towards long-term benefits rather than on short-term gains.

Nuclear Power:
A Power Projects Engineering Division was established in 1967 to assume responsibility for building nuclear power stations. The division was to develop Indian capability for design and construction and also to get components of high quality manufactured by Indian industries at prices which are internationally competitive. The design, construction and commissioning work of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP), at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, Madras Atomic Power Project (MAPP) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, Narora Atomic Power Project (NAPP) at Narora in Uttar Pradesh and Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) at Kakrapar in the Surat district of Gujarat was the responsibility of this division. Since 1979 it also had the responsibility for the operation of Tarapur Atomic Power Station. In August 1984 this division was re-constituted as the Nuclear Power Board (NPB) to implement the nuclear power programme in the country.

The long-term nuclear power programme drawn up by the Department envisages setting up an installed capacity of 10,000 MWe in the first phase. With this in view and to establish the necessary flexibility in operations, the NPB was converted as a Public Sector Undertaking named as Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), in September, 1987, with an authorised share capital of Rs.2,000 crore. All the assets of the erstwhile NPB, including operating power stations (excepting Rajasthan Atomic Power Station-1) and the projects under construction were transferred to NPCIL from September 17, 19987. The net value of the fixed assets transferred as on 17.9.87 was Rs.1,279 crore.

NPCIL has eight operating nuclear power reactors - two each at Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu) and at Narora (U.P.). Their total installed capacity is 1500 MWe. Six more reactors - each of 220 MWe are under construction - two each at Kakrapar (Gujarat), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Rawatbhata (Rajasthan). The nuclear power programme is presently based on 220 MWe PHWRs. The design of this reactor system has been standardised. The reactors at Narora as well as those being set up elsewhere, are of this design. In addition to the six reactors under construction, four more units of the same capacity are planned to be set up at Kaiga (Karnataka).