India's first fast breeder reactor to generate power 2015-16

India's 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) is targeted to generate power this fiscal, parliament was told on Thursday.

The PFBR is presently under advanced stage of commissioning and is targeted to produce power in fiscal 2015-16, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The government-owned Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) is setting up the country's first indigenously designed 500 MW PFBR at Kalpakkam, around 80 km from Chennai.

A breeder reactor is one that breeds more material for a nuclear fission reaction than it consumes. The PFBR will be fuelled by a blend of plutonium and uranium oxide, called MOX fuel.

BHAVINI will be constructing two more fast breeder reactors (FBR 1&2) of 600 MW capacity each at Kalpakkam, Singh said.

In addition to projects already under construction, financial sanction has been accorded for construction of two indigenous reactors, he added.

The two projects are: Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana Units 1&2 (GHAVP 1&2) (2X700 MW) by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) at Gorakhpur, Haryana.

Two more reactors at Kudankulam (Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project 3&4) in Tamil Nadu would be built with Russian help, he said.

During the last three fiscals, a total sum of Rs.1,459 crore has been allotted for the KNPP 3&4 projects and Rs.787 crore for the GHAVP's two units, he said.

A sum of Rs.27.60 crore was allotted during 2013-14 for the two FBR projects at Kalpakkam.

To another question, Singh said the second unit of KNPP is under commissioning and expected to start power generation in 2015-16.

He said the two new units at Kakrapar Atomic Power Project each with a capacity of 700 MW under construction is anticipated to be completed in 2017-18.

The two new units (700 MW each) under construction at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) is anticipated to be completed in 2018-19.