Indian nuclear industry 'happy' with N deal
The industry says it was looking forward to collaborating with American and other suppliers of nuclear technology.
Welcoming the draft agreement to implement the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, India's nuclear industry on Thursday said it was looking forward to collaborating with American and other suppliers of nuclear technology and know-how.
"We are pleased with the development and this is a good and challenging opportunity not only for implementing the indigenous programme with full zeal, but also for building a larger (nuclear power generation) capacity of up to 30,000 MW by 2025," said SK Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
"The entire organisation is waiting for this opportunity. As envisaged in the 11th Five-Year Plan we will be able to launch 10 nuclear reactors of 1,000 MW each," Jain told PTI.
"To increase the total capacity substantially, fast breeder reactors (FBRs) would help. But since they are still in the demonstration stage, it will take a few more years for FBRs to reach maturity and the Indo-US deal will give a chance to enhance the power base through nuclear energy," he said.
NPCIL is set to launch eight indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors of 700 MW each during the 11th Five Year Plan. Approval has been granted for four reactors and "we have started preparatory work on them at Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbatta in Rajasthan", Jain said.
On Wednesday, the Union cabinet approved the draft Indo-US nuclear cooperation agreement reached in Washington last week, noting that "all concerns" expressed by India had been adequately addressed in it.
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