Question : HEAVY AND LIGHT WATER REACTORS

(a) the details of the Heavy and Light Water Reactors installed in the various Nuclear Power Plants in the country along with the power generated by these reactors, separately during the 11th Five Year Plan;

(b) the per unit cost of production of nuclear energy in the country;

(c) whether nuclear energy is costlier in the country than in other developing countries; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to bring down the cost of nuclear energy?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) :

(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) Does not arise.