Nuke Power Output Doubled in Six Years

NEW DELHI: Nuclear power generation in India has more than doubled in the past six years while the capacity utilisation of nuclear reactors has increased from about 50 percent to 83 percent, the Centre said on Wednesday.

“Following the fruition of international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy in 2008, nuclear power generation has grown from 14,927 million units (MU) of electricity in 2008-09 to 35,333 MU in 2013-14, and the numbers is slated to improve further in next few months,” MoS for the Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The target of nuclear power generation for the five years (2012-13 to 2016-17) in 2011 was 2,41,748 MU. The generation of electricity from April 2012 to January 2015 has been 98,686 MU.

Replying to a question on the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project, he said the project’s units 3 and 4 of a capacity of 1,000 MW each were being prepared for a launch in 2015-16.

The unit 1 with a capacity of 1,000 MW has already been commissioned while the commissioning of the 1,000-MW unit-2 is underway.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA Government in July 2014 set a target of tripling the nuclear power capacity of 4,780 MW in the next 10 years by 2024.

In keeping with the ambitious plan, various sites have been given “in-principle” approval for additional reactors to be set up in future. “Currently, these sites are under pre-project activities which include land acquisition, obtaining environmental clearances, evaluation of techno-commercial offers in respect of Light Water Reactors to be set up with foreign technical cooperation,” he said.

Some of these projects include the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, Kaiga and Mahi Banswara.

Safety being paramount, a constant review of safety aspects, effecting necessary upgrades in line with the evolving safety standards on a par with the best international standards is a regular practice at Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Singh added.

34 Terrorist Modules Busted

New Delhi: Inflicting a serious blow on terrorist networks, the security agencies have busted 34 terrorist modules last year, MoS Home, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary told the Rajya Sabha. In a written reply, Haribhai said five terrorist modules were busted by the agencies in the last two months.“In the six cases being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), evidence has emerged of certain groups and people entering India and conducting anti-national activities or activities inimical to some neighbouring countries,” he said.

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