12 new N-plants soon: DAE chief

Mumbai, April 22

India will soon have 12 more nuclear plants to improve power situation and ensure there is free flow of uninterrupted power supply for both industries and residential use, a statement issued here today quoted Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) KN Vyas as saying.

“Nuclear technology helps in betterment of lives through varied usages and is an irreplaceable source of clean, pollution-free energy,” the statement quoted Vyas, who is also the Atomic Energy Commission of India’s Chairman, as saying at the 11th International Forum AtomExpo 2019, sponsored by Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, held in Sochi, Russia, recently.

He said the founder of Indian nuclear programme, Homi J Bhabha, had envisaged that nuclear technology would be “very essential” and not just in the power sector, but for other societal uses intended for betterment of life.

“We believe when it comes to clean energy, there is no substitute to nuclear energy as it is sustainable and without interruption, one can have clean energy,” the statement said citing the Secretary’s remarks.

Citing the record run of Kaiga Nuclear Power Station, he said a small unit of indigenously developed 220-250MW reactor has completed 962 days of uninterrupted run at 99.3 per cent capacity and the amount of electricity it has generated is “tremendous”.

Vyas said the first stage of India’s indigenous nuclear power programme has now attained maturity with 18 operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). — IANS