(a) whether there is a proposal to enhance the capacity of Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant; and
(b) if so, the likely extent of augmentation with the details of stages involved, expenditure likely to be incurred and the time by which it is likely to commence?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) & (b) Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu has two units viz. MAPS -1 &2 in operation since January 1984 and March 1986 respectively with installed capacity of 220 MWe each. On account of failure of manifold for heavy water flow in Calandria the capacity of these reactors was reduced to 170 MWe each since 1995. These units have been taken up for the En-masse Coolant Channel Replacement (EMCCR) to carry out upgradation work so as to restore the capacity of these units to the original capacity of 220 MWe each thereby adding 50 MWe each. The EMCCR work on MAPS-2 has already been completed in 2003 and 50 MWe has already been added. The EMCCR work at MAPS - 1 is progressing and it is expected that 50 MWe will be added to MAPS-1 during December 2005. The cost of EMCCR work for both the units is Rs. 490 crore.