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INSC Country Review: INDIA (1996)

• India's original nuclear power program was based on a policy of self-reliance and three stages of development: 1) building pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) for the production of electricity and plutonium, 2) developing commercial fast breeder reactors, and 3) exploiting the country's thorium resources by converting Thorium-238 to Uranium-233 in breeder reactors. However, ambitious early plans for development of nuclear power in India have been drastically curtailed, and budgetary support for the program from the government has been dramatically reduced.

• Nuclear power supplied about 2 percent of India's electricity in 1995.
• The two BWR units at Tarapur were built by General Electric/Bechtel on a turnkey basis, and the initial two units at Rajasthan were built by Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. All subsequent reactors have been designed and built by indigenous organizations.
• Fuel for the BWR units was supplied originally by the United States and later by France. Western fuel supplies ceased in 1993; in 1995, India announced that it was receiving low-enriched uranium from China for Tarapur, under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
• Natural uranium oxide fuel for the PHWRs and enriched uranium oxide fuel for the BWRs is manufactured at Hyderabad where expansion of the fuel fabrication and zirconium and zircaloy production facilities is underway. In March 1996, a third fuel reprocessing plant (125 tonne) was started at Kalpakkam to add to capacity at Trombay (50 tonne) and Tarapur (100 tonne).
• Plans for two VVER-1000 units to be supplied by the former Soviet Union, terminated following the breakup of the U.S.S.R., are being revived. The discussions are reportedly focused on technical cooperation rather than the original turnkey basis.
• The Rajasthan units are shut down pending replacement of pressure tubes. India has rejected Canadian offers of assistance linked to acceptance of full-scope safeguards. India now plans to retube the Rajasthan units with domestically developed tools and procedures, with completion in three years. India's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Atomic Energy has recommended that the status of the Rajasthan power station should be changed from being operated by the privately owned Nuclear Power Corporation to the Department of Atomic Energy.
• India is reported to be initiating a nuclear submarine construction program with Russian design assistance.
• In August, India acted to effectively veto the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

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Source: INSC Review Article