(a) whether the nuclear power plants of the country are facing fuel shortage due to gap between demand and supply of natural uranium;
(b) if so, the details thereof, plant-wise;
(c) the details of installed capacity of each of these plants along with the actual generation of electricity during the last three years, plant-wise; and
(d) the concrete steps taken by the Government to ensure continuous supply of fuel to each of such nuclear power plants in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Does not arise in view (a) above.
(c) The details are given in Annexure.
(d) The government has made arrangements to provide adequate quantity of fuel from both domestic and imported sources to ensure operation of nuclear power reactors at their rated power.
Uranium fuel requirement for the reactors which are not covered under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards is adequately met by Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), aPublic Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Time to time, projects which include
capacity expansion of some of existing units as well as for establishing new projects in various parts of the country, are planned for maintaining sustained supply.
Regarding fuel supply for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) which are under IAEA safeguards, a strategic reserve of imported natural uranium is maintained for enabling uninterrupted supply of fuel. Fuel for Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and water-water energetic reactor (VVERs) is met from the imports from Russia.
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