India is not at the mercy of powerful countries for atomic power

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that after the World War II and after obtaining independence in 1947, India is not at the mercy of the powerful countries in the matter of atomic power or energy.

In a written reply in the Upper House, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan informed that India is pursuing a self-reliant three-stage nuclear power programme based on indigenous nuclear resources.

As a part of first stage programme, 14 Pressurised Heavy Water reactors with a cumulative capacity of 3580 MWe are in operation and four such reactors are in an advanced stage of construction.

Construction has also started on one 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder reactor of the second stage of the nuclear power programme.

Mr Chavan also said that in addition to the indigenous programme, reactors based on imports have also been set up as additionalities.

Two such reactors have been in operation since 1969 and two more 1000 MWe reactors are under construction, being set up in technical cooperation with the Russian Federation.

More reactors, based on both indigenous designs and imports, if available, are planned in future, to increase the nuclear power capacity in the country, he added.

On the expansion target of atomic energy by the Government, the Minister said that the current nuclear power capacity of 3900 MWe in the country is expected to be increased to 7280 MWe [including 500 MWe from Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)] by the end of XI Plan progressively on completion of projects under construction.

Efforts of the Government in international cooperation in nuclear energy open the possibility of setting up more reactors based on imports. These reactors will use imported low enriched uranium fuel.

Mr Chavan also made it clear that the share of fuel to be imported will depend on the number of such reactors covered by foreign cooperation. However, no decision has been taken in this regard.

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