Hyderabad: India has registered an enormous increase in the production of uranium fuel, nearly double that required for nuclear reactors in the country.
The Hyderabad-based Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), which produces fuel for all nuclear reactors in the country, produced nearly 47 per cent more Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) uranium fuel bundles than the 850 rated capacity of the plant here. Chief executive Dr N. Saibaba also claimed that many countries were seeking NFC technology.
India’s nuclear reactors need about 650 MT of PHWR uranium fuel bundles annually. In 2014-15 the NFC increased production by nearly 300 MT to 1,252 MT. Deputy chief executive S. Goverdhan Rao said the plant had produced 47 per cent more fuel bundles than its rated capacity. This also means that the country has enough buffer stock of nuclear fuel. The Department of Atomic Energy is also constructing another plant in Kota to cater to the increasing number of nuclear reactors.
The NFC also claimed that several countries were seeking the technology it has developed. Dr Saibaba said Canada has asked for the high resistance welding technology for Beryllium brazing. End cap welding technology has already been sold to Turkey for its nuclear programme. The core sub assembly technology for Fast Breeder Reactors is being sought by Canada and Argentina.
NFC has also developed expertise in developing seamless tubes of any shape using any material. He said Canada is also seeking this technology but NFC is insisting that it will supply only end products and not technology. In addition to fuel, NFC also supplies strategic materials for use in projects like GSLV Mark III, Prithvi and Nag missiles.
