Capacity utilisation of India's nuke reactors rises to 83 per cent from 50 per cent

New Delhi, Feb 25: After India has signed various nuclear deals with other countries, the capacity utilisation of nuclear reactors in country has increased from about 50 per cent to 83 per cent, the government on Wednesday said.

"Following the fruition of international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy in 2008, nuclear power generation has grown from 14,927 million units (MU) of electricity in 2008-09 to 35,333 MU in 2013-14.

"The capacity utilisation has also improved from about 50 per cent to 83 per cent," Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said in a written response to a question in Lok Sabha.

He added that the target set for the five years (2012-13 to 2016-17) in 2011 was 2,41,748 (MU).

However, the electricity generation from April 2012 to January 2015 has been 98,686 MU. Since 2008, India has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with several countries like the United States, France, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Australia and Mongolia.

This not only gave India access to technology but also much needed fuel required for the reactors to generate power.

PTI