Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) is embarking on expansion of the production facilities at Hyderabad and also setting up a new production a facility at Kota, Rajasthan, to manufacture 500 MT of fuel assemblies to cater to the requirements of 700 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) at Kota and Kakrapara being commissioned, said Chief Executive G. Kalyankrishnan on Thursday.
Having successfully completed the supply of first core components for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), being commissioned at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, it is also into manufacturing of Titanium alloy tubes, copper embedded Niobium rods and others to meet critical requirements of Departments of Atomic Energy, Space and Defence, he said.
The NFC chief was addressing a gathering on the occasion of NFC Day at the Homi Bhabha auditorium in DAE Colony where the 9 lakh(th) fuel assembly was handed over to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) Director U.C. Muktibodh.
NFC makes and supplies fuel assemblies and reactor core structural components for all PHWRs and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) besides supplying sub-assemblies required for the first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) apart from casing for missiles, tubing form Light Combat Aircraft and cryogenic engine, etc.
Highlighting various achievements of Nuclear Fuel Complex in 2016-17, he said it has achieved highest ever production of 1512 MT of PHWR fuel assemblies, 1365 MT of Uranium Oxide Powder, 1154 MT of Zirconium Oxide Powder and 759 MT of Zirconium Sponge.
Mr. Kalyanakrishnan elaborated about the drastic reduction in process consumables coupled with major reduction in effluent generation and the likes. Development of 3-D blending unit, automatic - pellet feeding, tube feeding system and tube loading/unloading system and so on were other breakthroughs.
Renowned Metallurgist Prof. P. Rama Rao, Member, Atomic Energy Commission, who was the chief guest, congratulated NFC for sustained world record production of PHWR fuel for the last three consecutive years and the key role played by NFC in nuclear power programme. NFC officials Mr. Dinesh Srivastava welcomed while Mr. R.P. Acharya proposed the vote of thanks.
