50 (B) Nuclear Energy

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Overview
Nuclear energy contributes about 4.1% of power generation in India. The share of
nuclear energy is expected to reach 9% by 2035.
Currently, there are 6 nuclear power plants generating about 4120 MW Power
Station.
Power Station
State
Type
Capacity (MW)
Kaiga
Karnataka
PHWR
660
Kakrapara
Gujarat
PHWR
440
Kalpakkam
Tamil Nadu
PHWR
440
Narora
Uttar Pardesh
PHWR
440
Rawatbhata
Rajasthan
PHWR
740
Tarapur
Maharashtra
BWR, PHWR
1400
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The largest nuclear power station in India is located in Tarapur, Maharashtra. The
largest research reactor is the Dhruva at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC) in Mumbai.
Currently India uses two types of reactors for power production: Pressurised Heavy
Water Reactor (PHWR), Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). Additionally the Prototype
Fast Breeder Reactor is under experiments at the Madras Kalpakkam.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) is the sole company authorised
to set up nuclear power plants in India.
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Power Station
State
Type
Capacity (MW)
Kaiga
Karnataka
PHWR
220
Kakrapar
Gujarat
PHWR
440
Kalpakkam
Tamil Nadu
PHWR
2000
Narora
Uttar Prdesh
PHWR
500
Rawatbhata
Rajasthan
PHWR
740
Tarapur
Maharashtra
BWR, PHWR
1400
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Australia has the largest reserves of Uranium in the world. Canada, which has the second
largest reserves, is the largest exporter of Uranium.
India has limited availability of Uranium reserves in the country (about 1% of world
availability).
The primary source of Uranium in India are the Jaduguda mines in Jharkhand.Uranium is
extracted in the form of Yellow Cake.
However, Thorium is widely available in the world. Worldwide,Thorium is about three times
as abundant Uranium.
India has about 25% of the worlds reserves of Thorium.
In India, Thorium is commonly found in the form of the mineral Monazite in the beach sands
of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The waiver of restrictions on nuclear fuel supply by the Nuclear Suppliers Group in Sep 2008
has increased Indias opportunities for importing nuclear fuel (esp. Uranium).
India now has nuclear supply agreements with France (Sep 2008), the US (Sep 2008), the EU
Nov 2009), Canada (Nov 2009) and Russia (Dec 2009).
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The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) functions directly under the Prime
Minister.The Department was established in 1958.
The DAE is responsible for all nuclear technology in India, including nuclear power
and nuclear research.
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) function under the DAE. The Commission was
established in 1948, but moved to the Dept. of Atomic Energy in 1958.
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Established 1969, headquarters Mumbai

Responsible for production of heavy water (D2O)
Operates six heavy water plants in the country:
Kota (Rajasthan)
Baroda (Gujarat)
Hazira (Gujarat)
Thal (Maharashtra)
Talcher (Orissa)
Munuguru (Andhra Pradesh)
Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu)
India is the worlds largest manufacturer of heavy water.
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Established 1971, location Hyderabad.

Responsible for enrichment and supply of nuclear fuel for all nuclear power plants
in the country.
Also responsible for manufacturer of reactor core components.
The NFC processes both Uranium concentrates (for nuclear fuel) and Zirconium (for
reactor components).
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Established 1967, headquarters Singhbhum (Jharkhand)

Responsible for extraction and processing of uranium
Operates five uranium mines and two processing plants
All five uranium mines are located in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand
Jaduguda mine - oldest mine, commissioned 1967
Bhatin mine
Narwapahar mine -0 latest mine, commissioned 1995
Turamdih mine
Banduhurang mine - only open pit uranium min
India produces about 300 tonnes a year of uranium
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Established 1950, headquarters Mumbai

Responsible for extraction of minerals from beach sands
It primary responsibility is the extraction of Thorium (in the form of monazite) for
use in nuclear industry.
Operates four mineral extraction units
Aluva (Kerala)
Chavara (Kerala)
Manavalakurichi (Tamil Nadu)
Chatrapur Orissa)
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Established as the Atomic Energy Establishment Trombay in 1957. Located in

Mumbai
It is Indias first and primary nuclear research facility
Site of CIRUS reactor (Canada-India-US Research)
Developed Dhruva reactor (1958) - largest research reactor in the country
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Reactor
Fuel
Pressurised
water reactor
(PWR)
PWR, BWR and Supercritical water

reactors are 3 types of Light Water
Reactors PWR is compact and high
power and so used commonly in
Enriched Light water
aircraft carriers, submarines etc PWR
Light water
uranium (demineralised water)
is the oldest,most widely used reactor
for power generation. In PWR, the
water is maintained at high pressure
such that it does not boil even at high
temperatures
Pressurised Heavy
Water
Reactor (PHWR)
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Natural
uranium
Moderator
Heavy water
(D2O)
Coolant
Notes
Uses natural enriched uranium Lower

fuel costs No enrichment required
Heavy water
Needs
large quantities of fuel
Boiling water reactor

(BWR)
Fast Breeder Reactor

(FBR)
Enriched
uranium
Enriched
Uranium,Plutonium
Also non fissile
Uranium 238
Advanced Heavy Water

Thorium
Reactor (AHWR)
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Light water
No moderator
Heavy water
Amorphous
carbon
Light water
Second most common type of

reactor for power plants (after
PWR) Water is allowed to boil
Simple, uncomplicated design
Lower risk, longer lifetime than
PWR
Liquid metal
(usually liquid
Sodium)
Breeds fuel by producing more

fissile material than it consumes
Reactor core consists of
Plutonium and Uranium Reactor
core is surrounded by non-fissile
Uranium-238 which gets
converted into fissile Pu-239 by
capturing fast neutrons Since fast
neutrons are specifically desired
to bombard the U-238, no
moderator is required
Boiling water
Currently under development at

BARC Designed to use Thorium as
fuel
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50 (B) Nuclear Energy

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50 (B) Nuclear Energy

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www.iasexamportal.

Established 1969, headquarters Mumbai

Established 1971, location Hyderabad.

Established 1967, headquarters Singhbhum (Jharkhand)

Established 1950, headquarters Mumbai

Established as the Atomic Energy Establishment Trombay in 1957. Located in

PWR, BWR and Supercritical water

Uses natural enriched uranium Lower

Boiling water reactor

Fast Breeder Reactor

Advanced Heavy Water

Second most common type of

Breeds fuel by producing more

Currently under development at

Online Coaching for IAS Exams

Books for IAS Exams

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