India's nuclear capacity could jump threefold by 2023-24: Modi

Modi visits Dhruva reactor at BARC, discusses high temperature reactors programme and AHWR development

During his four-hour visit to BARC, Modi praised the contribution of nuclear scientists in the successful implementation of India’s three-stage nuclear programme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the department of atomic energy (DAE) should strive to meet the target of increasing nuclear capacity threefold from the present level of 5,780 Mw by 2023-24, within the projected cost.

“India’s self-reliance in the nuclear fuel cycle and the commercial success of the indigenous reactors demonstrated that with vision, resolve and hard work and India could be a front-ranking country in the most challenging fields,” Modi said.

During his four-hour visit to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Trombay, Modi praised the contribution of nuclear scientists in the successful implementation of India’s three-stage nuclear programme.

He underlined the importance of ensuring that nuclear energy remained commercially viable and competitive with other sources of clean energy in the long run. He also asked DAE to continually upgrade technology, both with regard to the country’s long-term plans and international trends. He said the DAE should plan for ensuring adequate availability of skilled human resources in the country.

Modi welcomed India’s growing international partnership in nuclear energy and hoped the ongoing projects would be implemented in a timely manner so that they meet the requirements of techno-economic viability and safety standards. Technology transfer to India, he observed, is a vital element of his vision for international partnership in India. The Prime Minister told DAE that nuclear safety and security are of the highest priority for him and asked the department to ensure that India's standards and practices are the most advanced in the world. He also asked the DAE to pay special attention to the local communities in planning and implementing nuclear power projects.

 

Visit to Dhruva reactorModi visited Dhruva reactor at BARC. Dhruva, which has been declared as the National Facility for Neutron Beam Research to cater to the needs of Indian scientific community, has been a milestone in the development and implementation of indigenous nuclear technology in the country. The 100 MW capacity Dhruva reactor achieved criticality on August 8, 1985.

 

BARC scientist, who did not want to be quoted, told Business Standard that the Dhruva reactor incorporates various features catering to the requirements of a broad based multidisciplinary user community as also in the production of radioisotopes of high specific activity.

 

Further, Modi also discussed with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and BARC scientists the implementation of high temperature reactor programme. High temperature reactors have a large potential to provide necessary high temperature process heat for hydrogen production. The high temperature reactor development programme was launched to develop alternate energy carrier to substitute fossil fuel based transport fuel.

 

Moreover, DAE and BARC scientists also briefed Modi about the development of advanced heavy water reactor (AHWR) designed at BARC to demonstrate commercial utilization of thorium.