(a)whether the Government is working on creating a "strategic Uranium Reserve" so that atomic power reactors do not face shortage of the nuclear fuel, and if so, the details thereof and the extent to which it would help in reducing uranium import;
(b)whether a proposal for stocking 5000 mt. of uranium has been approved, and if so,the details thereof; and
(c)whether the Government is planning to set up new nuclear fuel complex in the country, and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) & (b)Yes, Sir. Government is creating a "Uranium Reserve" by importing uranium to ensure our atomic power reactors under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards do not face shortage of the nuclear fuel.
Twenty one (21) nuclear power reactors are under operation in the country with an installed generating capacity of 5780 MWe. Thirteen (13) reactors with a total installed capacity of 3380 MW are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and are eligible for imported fuel. To meet requirement of fuel for reactors under IAEA safeguards, agreements for import of uranium have been signed with M/s Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combinat State Company (NMMC), Uzbekistan; M/s JSC TVEL Corporation, Russia; M/s CAMECO, Canada and M/s NAC Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan.
The latest agreement for import of Uranium from M/s Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan covers an import of 5000 MT of Uranium Ore Concentrate over a period of 5 years. Eight (8) reactors with a total installed capacity of 2400 MW are fuelled by indigenous fuel. The Government have made efforts to augment indigenous uranium supply by opening of new mines and processing facilities thus narrowing down the demand-supply gap for reactors using indigenous fuel. As a result, there has been a progressive improvement in capacity utilisation of nuclear power plants.
(c)Yes, Sir. The Hyderabad-based Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) is setting up a facility at Kota, Rajasthan to manufacture fuel assemblies required for four numbers of 700 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), two each at Kakrapar (Gujarat) and Kota (Rajasthan), being constructed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
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