Uranium rich AP to set up first nuclear plant

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today agreed to the proposal of state Generation Corporation to establish the first nuclear power plant of the state either at Kadapa or Srikakulam.

''It will be a 2x1000 MW Plant,'' a release from the Chief Minister's office said.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has already expressed keenness to set up a joint venture project with AP Genco.

Andhra Pradesh has the advantage of availability of uranium in Kadapa, location of Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad, Heavy water plant at Manuguru in Khammam district, easy availability of land and water and a large coastline.

The Chief Minister once again expressed happiness at the progress of the Indo-US Nuclear deal and hoped that the nuclear power plant would come up in Andhra Pradesh as envisaged.

He also announced that AP Genco would establish a second Ultra Mega Thermal Power Project of 4000 MW capacity near Vodarevu in Prakasam district. He asked the AP Genco to get ready with the Special Purpose Vehicle and complete other formalities.

Mr Reddy would lay the foundation stone for the ultra mega project near the Vodarevu port in December.

In addition to this, the Union Government would establish another ultra mega thermal power project of 4000 MW capacity either at Vodarevu or at Nizampatnam. The Central Electricity Authority technical team would visit the sites in few days and would finalise.

The Chief Minister took these decisions at a review meeting on AP Genco's performance and further plans at Secretariat with minister and officials.

Mr Reddy asked the AP Genco to go in for more imported coal and also coal from Mahanadi and additional coal from Singareni. He told the officials to build up buffer stocks so that there would be no fuel shortage for thermal plants.

He said he would take up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the issue of coal supply from Mahanadi and additional coal from Sinagareni Collieries.

The AP Genco is also bidding for two new blocks of coal from Mahanadi for its future needs.

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