On The Fast Track

India's nuclear business is witnessing excitement. The government recently announced that it was fast-tracking the construction of 10 units of indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). These have a total capacity of 7,000 MW. In another development, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and French company EDF, which took over the Jaithapur nuclear project, are likely to sign an agreement for six 1,650 MW reactors.

Elsewhere, the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, with two 1,000 MW units, is likely to see one 1,000 MW nuclear power unit getting commissioned every year between 2023 and 2026 (units 3 to 6). India has nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MWs. Another 6,700 MW is expected to come on-stream by 2021/22.

P.B. Jayakumar