Heavy and Light Water Reactors

There are 20 nuclear power plants in the country with installed capacity of 4780 MW, comprising of 18 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and 2 Light Water Reactors (LWRs). Of these, one PHWR [Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) Unit-1 (100 MW)] is under extended shutdown from October 2004. The remaining seventeen PHWRs, with a total capacity of 4360 MW, and two LWRs, with a capacity of 320 MW, are operating. Generation of electrical energy through Nuclear Power Plants in the country, in the 11th Five Year Plan period, amounted to 97161 Million Units (MUs) from PHWRs and 12481 MUs from LWRs.

The average generation tariff for nuclear power in the year 2012-13 was `2.69 per kWh (kilowatt-Hr). The tariff for the latest nuclear power plant (commissioned in the year 2010) is currently, about `3.44 per kWh.

The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prim Minister’s Office Shri V.Narayansamy gave this information in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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