AEC planning to start building 4 PHWRs next year

Indore, Feb 24 (PTI) Atomic Energy Commission is workingon a plan to start building at least four Pressurised HeavyWater Reactors (PHWR) of 700 megawatt power generationcapacity each, using indigenous technology, next year.

"We want to start the work of manufacturing four PHWRsfrom next year," AEC Chairman, Srikumar Banerjee, today toldreporters at Indore-based Raja Ramanna Centre for AdvancedTechnology.

"These reactors of 700 mw each, to come up withindigenous technology, will have a new design," he said.

Banerjee said currently 20 atomic energy plants, with 18indigenous-technology reactors, are running in the country.

"We need to enhance output as the nuclear power plantscontribute less than three per cent of the total poweravailability in the country," he added.

AEC Chairman said the atomic energy programme was beingwidened to achieve the target of generating 35,000 mw of powerby 2020, and 63,000 mw by 2032.