India is poorly endowed with uranium. Further, Indian uranium reserves are of extremely low grade. India is extracting uranium from less than 0.1% ores compared to ores with 12-14% uranium in certain resources abroad. This makes Indian nuclear fuel 3-4 times costlier than international supplies. The substantial thorium reserves can be used but that requires converting the fertile thorium into fissile material.
Following are the some Important facts about developed countries and Nuclear energy (Billion KW) and as percentage of total energy produced:
Following are the some Important facts about developed countries and Nuclear energy (Billion KW) and as percentage of total energy produced:
| Nuclear Power Generation Country wise | ||
|---|---|---|
| Country | Billion KWh | % of Total Generation |
| France | 428 | 78% |
| USA | 787 | 12.19% |
| Lithuania | 8.0 | 69% |
| Switzerland | 26.4 | 37% |
| Japan | 291.5 | 30% |
| UK | 69.2 | 18% |
| India | 15.6 | 2% |
In this context, a three-stage nuclear power programme is envisaged. This programme consists of setting up of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in the first stage, Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) in the second stage and reactors based on the Uranium 233-Thorium 232 cycle in the third stage. It is also envisaged that in the first stage of the programme, capacity addition will be supplemented by electricity generation through Light Water Reactors (LWR), in itially through Technology imports with long term objective of indigenisation. PHWR technology was selected for thr first stage, as these reactors are efficient users of natural uranium for yielding plutonium fuel required for the second stage FBR programme. The FBRs will be fuelled by plutonium and will also recycle spent uranium from the PHWR for breeding more plutonium fuel for electricity generation. Thorium s blanket material in FBRs will produce Uranium 233 to start the third stage.
The Approximate Potential Available in Nuclear Energy
| Particulars | Amount | Thermal Energy | Electricity | ||
| TWh | GWyr. | GWe-Yr | MWe | ||
| Uranium-Metal | 61,000-T | - | - | - | - |
| in PHWR | - | 7,992 | 913 | 330 | 10,000 |
| In FBR | - | 1,027,616 | 117,308 | 42,200 | 5,00,000 |
| Thorium-Metal | 2,25,000-T | - | - | - | - |
| In Breeders | - | 3,783,886 | 431,950 | 1,50,000 | Very large |
( Data from draft report of the expert committee on integrated Energy policy-Planning Commission)
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