Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Capacity of Atomic Plants

                                    Out of 20 nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 4780 MW, presently one reactor (Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Unit-1-100 MW) is under extended shut down since October 2004 for techno-economic assessment for continued operation.  Of the 19 reactors in operation, ten reactors with a capacity of 2840 MW comprising Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Units 1 to 4 (4x220 MW), Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS), Units 1&2 (2x220 MW), Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Units 1&2 (2x220 MW) and Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Units 3&4 (2x540 MW) are fuelled by indigenous uranium, which is not available in the required quantity.

            These are accordingly operated at comparatively lower power levels matching the fuel supply.  The remaining 9 reactors which are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards use imported fuel and are operating at rated capacity.

            The details of Capacity factors (%) of each of the Units using domestic fuel during the last three years and the current year are as follows:-

Units
Capacity MW
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13 upto July

TAPS-3
540
59
76
91
93
TAPS-4
540
58
66
59
85
MAPS-1
220
49
65
64
75
MAPS-2
220
58
51
66
67
NAPS-1
220
42
64
54
65
NAPS-2
220
-
61
48
61
KAIGA-1
220
52
65
66
77
KAIGA-2
220
58
51
71
61
KAIGA-3
220
58
69
64
77
KAIGA-4
220
-
78
69
72

Notes:  NAPS-2 was shut down for Renovation & Modernisation from 18 December 2007 to 06 September 2010. Kaiga-4 commenced commercial operation on 20 January 2011.

            In addition to the above units, Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Units 3&4 and Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), Units 1&2 which are presently under IAEA safeguards, were also fuelled by indigenous uranium prior to their placement under IAEA safeguards in 2010-11.  The notional loss of generation, considering a possible capacity factor of 85% has been 7658, 4867, 4329 and 680 Million Units in 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (upto July), respectively, as a result of mismatch in demand-supply of indigenous fuel.

            The Central Government has taken steps to augment supply of domestic uranium by opening of new mines and processing facilities.  This has resulted in improvement in domestic uranium supply, which is evident in the increasing capacity factors of the units using domestic fuel supplies.

            Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plants, Units 1&2 (2x1000 MW) project was initially scheduled to be completed in December 2008.  This however got delayed because of various reasons including public unrest at the site.  The first unit of this project is now scheduled to be operational by October 2012 and second unit is also closely following.  Completion of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been rescheduled to September 2014.

            The Kudankulam project is being set up in technical cooperation with the Russian Federation.  The project was initially delayed due to non sequential receipt of equipment from the Russian Federation and subsequently due to local protests impeding the work during September 2011 to March 19, 2012.  The Government has taken steps to allay the legitimate apprehensions of the local people.  The work has resumed round-the-clock since March 20, 2012.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. 

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