(a) the number of years nuclear power generation can sustain on the uranium reserves available in the country;
(b) the average spending to extract one kilogram of Uranium from the ore in comparison with other countries which have Uranium reserves; and
(c) the details of the contracts for construction of nuclear reactors which have already been awarded and to which entity and the details of the process involved in awarding these contracts?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)
(a) The known resources of uranium in the country (about 1,00,000 tons of U3O8) were considered adequate to support a PHWR capacity of 10,000 MW for 40 years. The Atomic Minerals Directorate of Exploration and Research (AMD) have intensified its exploration efforts and the present estimated in-situ uranium resource stands at about 1,71,672 tons of U3O8.
(b) The average compensation price for producing 1 kg of U3O8 by Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) is `.18,972.00 for the year 2010-11. Data on the average spending by other
countries for extracting are not available. However, the international price of Uranium varied between 45 – 130 US $ / lb depending upon time and mode of purchase.
(c) Nuclear power projects in the country are set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs) under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). NPCIL has commenced
construction of two nuclear power projects – KAPP 3 & 4 (2 x 700 MW) at Kakrapar in Gujarat
and RAPP 7&8 (2 x 700 MW) at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Details of major contracts awarded for construction of these projects were as follows:
Package KAPP 3&4 RAPP 7&8
Civil Works Larsen & Hindustan Construction Toubro (L&T) Company (HCC)
Steam Generator Package BHEL & L&T BHEL & L&T
Turbogenerator package BHEL Alsthom Consortium -
Endshields L&T L&T
Primary Piping Package M/s. Punj Lloyd M/s. Punj Lloyd
Calandria Walchandnagar Industries WIL & Godrej Limited (WIL)