In-principle approval accorded to Jaitapur site for setting up 6 nuclear power reactors: Govt
1 min read . Updated: 16 Dec 2021, 05:55 PM IST
PremiumMoS for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh informed the Parliament that it has accorded in-principle approval to a site in Jaitapur of for setting up 6 nuclear power reactors of 1,650 MW each in technical cooperation with France
NEW DELHI : The government on Thursday informed the Parliament that it has accorded in-principle approval to a site in Jaitapur of Maharashtra for setting up six nuclear power reactors of 1,650 MW each in technical cooperation with France.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said with the additional 1,650 MW each, Jaitapur will be the largest nuclear power generating site in the country with a total capacity of 9,900 MW.
"The government has accorded in-principle approval of the site at Jaitapur in Maharashtra for setting up six nuclear power reactors of 1,650 MW each in technical cooperation with France which would make it the largest nuclear power generating site with a total capacity of 9,900 MW," Singh said.
Currently, techno-commercial discussions to arrive at the project proposal with France are in progress, the minister added.
In response to another query, the minister said the government provides all impetus to promote the use of nuclear energy in health services and agricultural programmes for indigenous development, import substitutes and also provide cost-effective treatment.
"The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is involved in the development, pre-clinical evaluation and obtaining the radiopharmaceuticals committee’s approval for human use for a number of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals adaptable to the existing and foreseeable demands," Singh said.
Technologies for large-scale production of these radiopharmaceuticals are transferred to the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), the minister said
"BRIT is producing and supplying radiopharmaceutical products across the country and serving a large number of hospitals by supplying these products at their door steps. BRIT is also supporting a large number of irradiators by supplying Cobalt-60 pencils," the minister added.
He further said these irradiators are used for food grain preservation and sterilisation of medical products. BARC has been carrying out development of seed varieties using gamma radiation. So far, 49 seed varieties developed have been notified for cultivation.
Technologies have also been developed for self-life extension of agricultural products, the minister added.
