Country nuclear fuel cycle profile: India

India's first nuclear reactor started operation in 1969. Two BWRs and twelve PHWRs were in operation in 2002, with a total capacity of 2720 MW(e). Nuclear power accounted for about 4% of total power generation. In addition, eight reactors having a total capacity of 3960 MW(e) are under construction, scheduled to be commissioned between 2004 and 2008. India has plans to build more PHWR, FBR and thorium based reactors. It has completed the design and technology development of a 500 MW(e) FBR and construction of the prototype began recently. India is one of the few countries to have developed expertise in all areas of the nuclear fuel cycle and allied fields covering mineral exploration, mining, heavy water production, fuel fabrication, fuel reprocessing and the management of nuclear waste at the back end of the cycle. These nuclear programmes are undertaken by governmental bodies. India decided for a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Four underground uranium mines (Jaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar and Turamdih) are in operation in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand State. Uranium ore produced from these mines is processed in the mill located at Jaduguda. The end product from Jaduguda is yellow cake. The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC)-Hyderabad conversion plant (conversion to UO2) is in operation and processes yellow cake and converts the same to uranium oxide for use in PHWRs. It also processes imported enriched UF6 and converts the same to uranium oxide for use in BWRs. The NFC continues to support the nuclear power programme and supplies all the fuel bundles required by India's operating PHWR reactors. It has also supplied fuel bundles fabricated from enriched UF6 to BWRs. In order to meet the future needs of the Indian nuclear power programme, NFC has been expanding its manufacturing capabilities with regard to nuclear fuels and zirconium alloy, with 1 zirconium sponge facility and 2 zirconium alloy tubing facilities. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has manufactured twelve MOX fuel assemblies for irradiation in BWRs. Two of these assemblies are undergoing post-irradiation examination. BARC also fabricates mixed carbide sub-assemblies for the Fast Breeder Test Reactor and MOX test fuel assemblies for PHWR and PFBR. In the 1960s, India developed technology for reprocessing natural uranium oxide fuel from its heavy water reactors. A plant for reprocessing spent fuel from its PHWRs was put into service at Tarapur in 1977. Another plant was commissioned at Kalpakkam in 1996. Seven heavy water production facilities are in operation at Baroda, Hazira, Kota, Manuguru, Talcher, Thal-Vaishet and Tuticorin. All the plants are working at their intended capacities