AtomStroyExport to Develop Nuclear Power Plant in Haripur, Orissa

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--AtomStroyExport (Moscow, Russia) has been awarded the construction contract for the proposed nuclear power plant at Haripur in the East Midnapore district of the state of Orissa. The site, which meets all technical specifications, including a low demographic impact, has been reported to have the potential to house up to six reactor units. Initially, two 1,000-megawatt (MW) VVER-series reactors will be installed at Haripur. Construction activities are anticipated to start by 2010 and last for five years.

The allotment of the Haripur site to Russia comes in the wake of nuclear power plant sites' being identified for French and U.S. participation. Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris, France) is already working on the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra, which also has the potential to handle six reactor units. Areva will be setting up two European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) of 1,650 MW each during the first phase of operations, which is slated for commissioning in 2017-18.

Of the remaining three sites shortlisted by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) (Mumbai)--Pati Sonapur in Orissa, Kowadi in Andhra Pradesh, and Mithivirdi in Gujarat--Kowadi and Mithivirdi have been earmarked for U.S. firms General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Monroeville, Pennsylvania), a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation (TYO:6502) (Tokyo, Japan), with whom NPCIL has entered into agreements. However company-specific site details have not been finalized.

Several greenfield nuclear power ventures have been initiated in India subsequent to the civil nuclear agreement with the U.S., as well as the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As part of these agreements, of a total of 17 nuclear reactors currently functioning in India and six others that are under construction, the country is required to place 14 reactors under the safeguards of the IAEA in order to have access to imported fuel. Separating civil and military nuclear ventures and bringing projects under IAEA safeguards will have to be completed by 2014.

The first set of six operating reactors, already under the purview of the IAEA, are from the three plants at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, Tarapur in Maharashtra, and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Two units each from the Kakrapar and Narora atomic power plants will be brought under the IAEA safeguards by 2012 and 2014, respectively. Units 3 and 4 of the Rajasthan atomic power plant, which are due to commence operations in 2010, and units 3 and 4 of the Rawatbhata nuclear power plant will also be placed under the IAEA safeguards by 2010.

Currently fuel imports are under way from both Areva and Russia's Tvel Corporation (Moscow, Russia), with the imported fuel being fabricated at the Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad for use at the Rajasthan atomic power plant. However, no final decision has been reached regarding the facilities to process imported spent fuel within the country.

With India proactively initiating new nuclear ventures and identifying projects to be placed under the IAEA safeguards, efforts to obtain fuel reprocessing clearance may well bear fruit as the Indo-U.S. teams get ready for another round of meetings in November this year. India has also consented to set up a dedicated facility for reprocessing fuel imported from the U.S. This fuel-reprocessing agreement is expected to be mutually beneficial, offering an entry for U.S.-based firms into the Indian nuclear sector.

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