India receives first batch of Nuclear fuel from France
India has received the first consignment of 60 tonnes of uranium from France for use as fuel to be used in the country's nuclear reactors. The fuel has arrived at the Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad, where the uranium ore will be processed for use in safeguarded pressurized heavy water reactors.
India's public sector nuclear power company NPCIL entered into a joint agreement with French nuclear giant Areva in February for the supply of 300 ton Uranium annually.
The uranium has been imported under a contract for 330 tonnes of the nuclear fuel which India will receive, following a clearance by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
AEC Chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar said, the country's fuel-starved nuclear reactors will get a fresh lease of life. He said. The Department of Atomic Energy also expects an increase in production of uranium by 25 per cent from Jaduguda and Turamdih mills in the country by the end of this year.
A top nuclear scientist said that four new nuclear reactors of 1,000 Megawatt capacity each will be set up in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu after India finalises a deal on it with Russia in June this year. India and Russia have already signed other enabling accords like agreements on sharing of information and it is only the techno-commercial offer that has to be finalised.
In a related development, Prime Minister's Special Envoy Shyam Saran said, India may sign the Nuclear Liability Accord after the polls to begin actual nuclear commerce with the US Companies. he said, steps are being taken for India's right to reprocess the US origin spent fuel. Ruling out signing the CTBT by India, he reiterated India's position that the country will continue with voluntary moratorium on nuclear tests.
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