NPCIL delivers robust performance during fiscal 2012

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Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), which operates 19 nuclear power reactors, has surpassed its previous electricity generation record of 26,473 MU by generating 32,455 MU during the year ending March 31,2012, an increase of about 23 per cent.

NPCIL has witnessed a robust growth in the fiscal 2011-12 with its turnover increasing to about Rs 7500 crore from Rs 6,000 crore in the previous financial year, an NPCIL release said.

The overall average availability factor of the nuclear power plants continued to be high at 91 per cent during the year.

The average capacity factor (CF) for nine reactors of the 19 in operation, fuelled with imported uranium fuel, recorded all time high at 97 per cent.

The overall average capacity factor for NPCIL reactors was 79 per cent against the target of 66 per cent, it said.

Tarapur Atomic Power Station unit-3 (TAPS-3), 540 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) and forerunner of indigenous 700 MW, achieved a remarkable feat of a continuous operation for 522 days, thus joining the fleet of 10 nuclear power reactors which have operated continuously over one year.

Tarapur Atomic Power Station was also awarded this year the prestigious CEA (Central Electricity Authority) shield for 2010-11 for outstanding performance.

Tarapur units 3&4 (TAPS-3&4) also bagged the Industrial and Fire Safety Award from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board(AERB).

Yet another feather in the cap for NPCIL was the Gold Shield Award from Ministry of Power, Government of India, in March 2012 for Rawatbhata Rajasthan (RR) site.

Safety continued to be accorded highest priority at all the nuclear power reactors and there were no incidents while achieving the 'excellent operational performance', it said.

The safety performance of Indian nuclear power reactors continued to be impeccable, the release said.

The safety review post-Fukushima for the existing operating nuclear power reactors and the reactors under construction, has found them to be safe from extreme natural events like earthquake and tsunami, it said.

Several additional safety measures have been implemented at Indian nuclear power plants to further enhance the safety to a higher level.

Hot run for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project units-1 was successfully completed in July 2011 and the unit is being made ready, with completion of activities related to fuel loading procedures after stage wise regulatory clearances for its early start up. The unit-2 is closely following the unit-1.

The current installed capacity of NPCIL of 4680 MW will reach 9580 MW by the end of 2017 on progressive completion of reactors under construction.

NPCIL has planned launch of about 17,000 MW capacity in the current five-year plan (2012-2017) by setting up 10 PHWRS of 700 MW each and 10Light Water Reactors (LWRs) of 1,000 MW each based on international cooperation.

With the progressive completion of these reactors by 2021-22, the nuclear power capacity is expected to reach over 20,000 MW.