PFBR set to go critical

June 11, 2014 01:00 am | Updated 01:00 am IST - HYDERABAD:

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) in Chennai is all set to go critical this year, as 98 per cent of the construction work has been completed and commissioning of the project is underway, said Sekhar Basu, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), here on Tuesday.

Speaking with reporters after the National Fuel Complex (NFC) Day- 2014 celebrations, Mr. Basu said: “One of the most important steps is taking in sodium for the reactor as it works in very high temperatures. That will be the real challenge.”

He also stated that the development of a small-scale nuclear reactor is in the research and development (R&D) stage now.

The future plan is to achieve generation of 50,000 mega watts (MW) of power for which about 50 nuclear reactors would have to be set up, he said. “As of now, we are generating 4,700 MW, and with the Kudankulam one and two other projects, it will go up to 6,000 MW. Funds and finding a location are bottlenecks. Any plant we try to build, there will be resistance like there was for Kudankulam,” he pointed out.

However, the Director was confident that the new Union Government will give importance to the energy sector. “It is talking about a jump in infrastructure, which is the requirement for a higher growth rate. If the government investment starts, then everybody else will do it as well,” Mr. Basu opined. When asked why growth in the energy sector was slow, he said that though it was slow, things eventually took off.

On spent fuel that comes out of nuclear reactors, Mr. Basu said that it will be stored for some time and later, more storage pools called ‘away from reactor facilities’ will be set up. “Kudankulam is a reactor which will be under safeguards. We cannot use it now. For that, we need to approach so many agencies like the International Atomic Agency for implementation. But technology-wise, we don’t have a problem.”

Mr. Basu also said that a small thorium-based reactor is being set up to help in further construction of a bigger one in the third stage of the nuclear programme.

C.B.S. Venkataramana, Additional Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy said the price of coal increases in the international market when a big country like India purchases it. “Also, it is a misconception that there will be accidents when nuclear reactors are set up,” he mentioned.

N. Saibaba, Chief Executive, National Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad, stated that production of NFC is increasing manifold, but activity levels are on the decline due to improved ventilation systems. “A special process of removing uranium particles from discharge water through electro coagulation method was developed and the improved safety culture was reflected in the best safety performance during 2013,” he said.

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