The Hindu : National : First consignment of natural uranium arrives

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Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009
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First consignment of natural uranium arrives

Y.Mallikarjun

HYDERABAD: In the wake of the international nuclear market opening up for India, the first consignment of natural uranium of 60 tonnes from French nuclear supplier AREVA Inc. arrived at the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) here on Tuesday.

Following the 123 Agreement between India and the United States and waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), India signed an agreement with France for bilateral cooperation for supply of nuclear reactors and fuel. Subsequently, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) entered into a contract with AREVA for supply of 300 tonnes, and a part of that quantity was received by the NFC on Tuesday.

Describing the arrival of the first consignment as “historically significant,” Chief Executive of NFC, R.N. Jayaraj, said the remaining 240 tonnes of uranium from AREVA and a part of 120 tonnes from Russia were expected to be received by April end. Talks were also on with Khazakstan for supply of uranium.

The material (uranium ore concentrate) would be processed in the designated fuel plants at the NFC and made into fuel bundles to be used in the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS 1 & 2- 220 MW each), which are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Presently, the NFC was supplying nuclear fuel for all the 15 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRS), including the RAPS units.

The quantity of 300 tonnes would enable the NFC to produce 20,000 fuel bundles. Each bundle containing about 15 kg of uranium dioxide could generate about 6.4 lakh units of power, he added.

Under the separation plan, India would place 10 PHWRs under safeguards by the end of 2014 by placing two reactors each year. Next year, RAPS 5 and 6 ( 220 MW each) would be opened up for IAEA safeguards.

Mr. Jayaraj said that the NFC was also expanding its facilities. With four Russian Light Water Reactors (VVER-type) coming up at Koodankulam, Tamil Nadu, the NFC planned to produce the fuel required by LWRs in collaboration with Russia.

He said the IAEA had placed an order on the NFC to manufacture and supply ‘end closure wielding machine,’ a critical equipment needed in nuclear fuel manufacturing.

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