India can develop world’s Cheapest Nuclear Reactors: Govt [August 2012]

India can develop world’s cheapest nuclear reactors with an amount of $ 1700 per unit, , the Government informed Parliament on Thursday. “India can develop world’s cheapest nuclear reactors with an amount of US $ 1700 per unit for a 700 MW reactor when compared to an average US $ 2,500 and US $ 3,000 in the world,” MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office, V Narayanasamy told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
 
The completion cost of the indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) presently under construction is about 1700 USD/kWe. The overnight costs of South Korean reactors OPR-1000 and APR 1400 are 1876 USD/kWe and 1556 USD/kWe respectively. However, the Government  informed that the overnight cost of Indian 700 MW PHWRs is about 1150 USD/kWe at 2008 prices. “The quality of Indian nuclear power reactors is comparable to those in other countries of the world including South Korea,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.
 
Meanwhile, the Government has also stated that Unit-1 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is at an advanced stage of commissioning. The permission for initial fuel loading and first approach to criticality had been accorded by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) on August 10. Significantly, the Minister informed that Kudankulam, to be operated by NPCIL, would come under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act.
 
“The cost of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 & 2 is estimated to go up from Rs. 13171 crore to Rs. 17270, due to delay in commissioning of the plant,” the Minister acknowledged.

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