New Delhi: From ratifying the additional protocols of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to signing of the nuke deal with Australia the nuclear energy sector saw steady progress in 2014. The year also saw agreements for building units 3 and 4 for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) with Russia,
However, unlike last year which saw commencing of commercial operation of the KKNPP unit 1, there wasn’t much in terms of actual energy generation from the new plants.
India ratified the Additional Protocol of the IAEA, a mandatory action under the Indo-US nuclear cooperation agreement, which enabled the international nuclear energy watchdog to have better access of India’s civilian nuclear facilities. The move will also make India’s bid for securing membership of the Nuclear Supplier’s Group stronger.
According to experts, the Indian uranium reserves are not only of low quality but are unable to quench the thirst of power reactors, thus impacting the nuclear energy production.
This year, India and Australia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement. The deal will also help in procuring uranium for power reactors, which have been running with low capacity due to the lack of fuel.
Similarly, India and Russia sign the agreement to construct unit 3 and 4 for the KKNPP in Tamil Nadu, sorting out the contentious issue of liability.
However, there were lows in the atomic energy sector as India could not clinch the nuke deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan. Had the deal been struck, India would have been in a position to import equipment required for nuclear power reactors, built with foreign collaboration.
There has also been little progress on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP), which is to come with French collaboration.
The 9900 MW Jaitapur plant (1650 MW x 6) is to be build with Areva’s EPR technology on the coastal village in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Areva are still in discussion over the techno-commercial aspects.
A year after signing the agreement for conducting feasibility study for the Chaya Mithi Virdhi project, a nuclear plant which to come up with American company Westinghouse Co in Gujarat, there has not been much progress.
During Modi’s visit to the US this year, both the countries set up a contact group to advance the implementation of Indo-US nuclear cooperation agreement.
In terms of energy production, unit 2 of KKNPP has still not started generating power. This is more than a year after the unit 1 was connected to the southern grid in October last year. Even the unit 1 of the KKNPP was down due to technical glitches in the turbine and became operational early this month.
Despite these lows, unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) created a record after it become the second longest running reactor in the world by being in operation for 765 days continuously.
The Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), a 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor, in Rawatbhata had uninterrupted operation since August 2, 2012 and it has been operating at full power with a capacity factor of 105%.