NPCIL improves power level of nine reactors to 70%

The fuel starved Indian nuclear power plants have improved their power level up to 70% with an increase in supply of uranium from the Turamdih uranium mill in Jharkhand.

Indian nuclear power plants were operating below 50% for more than a year due to shortage of uranium fuel and "with the doubling of production in the Turamdih mill in Jharkhand, it is now  possible to operate nine indigenous 220 MW plants at 70%," Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), chairman and managing director, SK Jain said.

The Turamdih mill which began operations last year to augment indigenous uranium production had faced teething problems ,"but now the mill has gradually doubled its production and we will be able to meet the demands of all the 15 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors soon," Jain said.

The power level of Tarapur Atomic Power Stations Units 4 and 5, Narora Atomic Power station unit 1, one unit of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station, two units of Madras Atomic Power station and three units of Kaiga Atomic Power Plants were raised to 70%, he said.

"With this, in this financial year, we should be able to generate 50% additional nuclear power (22000 million units cumulative)," he said.

Last week, NPCIL re-started Rajasthan Atomic power unit 2 with the imported fuel and which is currently running at nearly 80%, he said.