'India can't produce 20,000 MW n-energy by 2020

Mumbai, April 4 (IANS) India's ambitious deadline to generate 20,000 MW nuclear energy by 2020 may be delayed by almost a year, a top official said here Wednesday.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) had planned the launch of around 17,000 MW capacity in the current Five Year Plan period (2012-17) by setting up 10 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors of 700 MW each and 10 Light Water Reactors of 1000 MW each, based on international co-operation.

'With the progressive completion of these reactors by 2021-22, the nuclear power capacity is expected to reach over 20,000 MW,' NPCIL chairman & managing director S.K. Jain said.

The current installed capacity of NPCIL of 4,680 MW will touch 9,580 MW by the end of the current Five Year Plan on progressive completion of the reactors under construction, he said.

On the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) Unit-1 in Tamil Nadu, he said that the hot run was completed last July (2011) and the unit is now being readied for an early start with the activities related to fuel loading procedures after securing stage-wise regulatory clearances.

The KNPP Unit-2 is closely following the Unit-1, he added.

Similarly, Jain said construction activities at other new projects are progressing as planned.

The first pour of concrete was achieved for the 2x700MW PHWRs at Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant (RAPP-7 & 8) last July, while construction was apace for another similar pair at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP3&4), Jain said.

The Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS-Unit 3), the 540 MW PHWR and forerunner of the indigenous 700 MW category, achieved a remarkable feat of continuous operation for 522 days.

By this, Jain said TAPS-Unit 3 has joined the elite fleet of 10 nuclear power reactors in the country which have operated continuously for over one year.