Synergy In R & D Stressed

Atomic Energy Commission chairman R Chidambaram yesterday called for enhanced synergy within the units of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), between DAE units and other public sector defence and space laboratories as also the industry and academic institutions in the wake of the sanctions.

He also asked the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Nuclear Fuel Complex to stand by the Indian industries affected by the sanctions in the area of materials.

Chidambaram, who played a kerole in the recent nuclear tests at Pokhran, was speaking after formally inaugurating the new 60-tonnes per year capacity zirconium alloy fabrication plant at NFC here. The AEC chief said with the commissioning of the new plant, NFC would be able to meet the Nuclear Power Corporation's requirements but also the non-nuclear sector industries.

NFC Chief Executive C Ganguly, welcoming the AEC head said the Complex was in the process of developing fuel and zirconium alloy required for the 500 mw pressurised heavy water reactors being taken up for construction at Tarapur and the 1,000 mw VVER

reactors of Russian origin proposed at Kudankulam, as well as the setting up of new plants for zirconium and titanium at Palayakayal.

He said NFC far exceeded its target and produced a record 212 tonnes of natural uranium oxide fuel for operating heavy water cooled reactors of the Nuclear Power Corporation. Its turnover last year was Rs 300 crore and projected turnover for the current year is Rs 400 crore. It has also entered the export market in a small way.