India's second largest fast breeder reactor to be commissioned by 2011
4 Dec 2008, 1929 Hrs

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New Delhi, Dec 4 Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Anil Kakodkar today said that India's second largest fast breeder reactor will be commissioned by year 2011.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the 11th India Energy Forum Conference in here, Kakodkar expressed satisfaction over the development of thorium technology for generating nuclear power.

"When the 500 mega watt Prototech Fast Breeder Reactor gets commissioned by year 2010 or 2011, it would be the second largest. Same goes with thorium. Thorium deployment on large scale will take a while but that's our ultimate objective. So as far as the research and development converting to technology is taking it to commercial deployment, I think we have done quite well," he added.

India possesses almost one-fourth of the world's high-quality thorium deposits--the basis for a proposed alternative nuclear fuel cycle.

"We have limitations in terms of delivering on large scale power requirements through nucleus simply because of the fact that we have technology but not uranium. If we would have plenty of uranium we could set up more power stations and deliver the required power in a short span," he said.

Meanwhile, Power Secretary Anil Razdan said that the availability of cheaper uranium would boost India's nuclear power generation.

"We add about 32 Giga Watts of nuclear power every year on the nuclear front not just in India but across the world. As far as India is concerned, I will be very happy if the rest of the countries slow down in developing their nuclear power. Then we can continue to import uranium in large quantities and if global demand does not pick up. It will be in our benefit as uranium would be cheaper then," he added.

The United States and India signed a potentially lucrative civil nuclear agreement in October this year, which would provide India with access to U.S. nuclear fuel, reactors and technology and allow India to indulge in global nuclear commerce. (ANI)