Cost of nuclear power generation

Cost of nuclear power generation 

There are 21 nuclear power reactors in the country with a total installed capacity of 5780 MW. Of this, a capacity of 3380 MW comprising 13 reactors, is under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Of the reactors under safeguards, one reactor, Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit-1 (RAPS–1) (100 MW) at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan is currently under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment for continued operation. The Reactors under IAEA safeguards are fuelled with imported fuel, obtained as a result of nuclear cooperation agreements. The remaining reactors are fuelled with indigenous fuel.

The current tariff of nuclear power, both from indigenous reactors and from reactors set up with foreign technical cooperation is comparable with that of other contemporary base-load electricity generating technologies like coal based thermal power stations in the region.

The international cooperation agreements have opened up the possibilities of import of fuel for reactors under IAEA Safeguards and setting up large capacity nuclear power reactors in technical cooperation with foreign countries. In this regard the Government has accorded ‘in principle’ approval of the following sites, to set up Nuclear Power Plants in a phase-wise manner:

Site & Location	In Cooperation with	Capacity (MW)
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu	Russian Federation	4 x 1000
Haripur, West Bengal		6 x 1000
Jaitapur, Maharashtra	France	6 x 1650
Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh	United States of America	6 x 1000*
Chhaya Mithi Virdi, Gujarat		6 x 1000*

*Nominal Capacity

           The actual percentage increase in power generation, on completion of these projects, would depend on the generation of electricity from other sources at that point of time.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today. 

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Comissioning of Jaitapur nuclear power plant 

Several rounds of discussions have been held between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and M/s AREVA of France to devise appropriate business model for implementation of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project. These discussions have covered both technical and commercial aspects of the Project. The schedule of project implementation will emerge on conclusion of these discussions.

An agreement for Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) of Project Affected Persons (PAP) of Jaitapur as announced by the Government of Maharashtra is under implementation. As of June 30, 2015, out of 2336 Khatedars (Title holders), 1773 PAPs have accepted the compensation and 1753 have collected the additional compensation. In addition, 431 PAPs have been sanctioned Rs.5 lakh each in line with the provisions of R&R in lieu of direct employment. The other works included in the agreement are also taken up.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today. 

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Third stage of nuclear programme 

The Government is committed to implement the third stage of Indian Nuclear Power Programme, after an adequate nuclear installed capacity has been reached based on Fast Breeder Reactors to be set up in the second stage. On account of non-existence of any fissile isotope in naturally occurring Thorium (unlike that existing in Uranium), commercial utilisation of Thorium, on a significant scale, can begin only when abundant supply of either Uranium or Plutonium resources are available. Upon the launch, followed by a significant growth of a thorium based nuclear programme in this manner, it could be possible to maintain the achieved level (without much further growth) of nuclear power programme with thorium alone, without additional demands on uranium or plutonium resources. Therefore, considering the meager domestic uranium resources in the country, it is feasible to start a significant commercial level Thorium based reactor programme in our country only after an adequate inventory of Plutonium becomes available from our Fast Breeder Reactors, comprising the second stage of Indian nuclear programme. Accordingly, the utilisation of Thorium as a practically inexhaustible energy source has been contemplated during the third stage of the Indian nuclear programme, which can be reached after a few decades.

Substantial work has been carried out in the areas of research on technologies for utilisation of thorium in nuclear fuel cycle, and on the development of an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), to serve as a technology demonstrator for use of thorium based fuel on a large scale.

The details of Projects initiated in the last five years along with amount  

 earmarked and estimated power production are given below:

Project	Location	Capacity (MW)	Completion cost (Rs.crore)
Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Units 3&4 (KAPP 3&4)	Kakrapar, Gujarat	2 X 700	11459
Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units 7&8 (RAPP 7&8)	Rawatbhata, Rajasthan	2 X 700	12320

The details of projects accorded financial sanction and being readied for launch are :

Project	Location	Capacity (MW)	Completion cost (Rs.Crore
Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP 1&2)	Gorakhpur, Haryana	2 x 700	20594
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP 3&4)	Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu	2 x 1000	39849

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today.