PM dedicates Nuclear Reactor Fuel Processing Plant to the nation at BARC, Tarapur

[Kinetic]

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This is a reprocessing plant to achieve three stage complete nuclear fuel cycle.


Govt of India press release....




PIB Press Release

The Prime Minister, DR. Manmohan Singh addressed the nation on the occasion of Commissioning of the Power Reactor Fuel Processing Plant at Tarapur. Following is the text of Prime Minister’s remarks on the occasion:

“I am delighted to be present at the historic occasion of the commissioning of the second Power Reactor Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur.

This is a significant milestone in our country’s three-stage indigenous nuclear programme. I heartily congratulate the scientists and engineers who were involved in the design, construction and commissioning of this unique complex and state of the art facility. This is yet another instance that once we make up our mind, India can do anything.

We have come a long way since the first reprocessing of spent fuel in India in the year 1964 at Trombay. The recycling and optimal utilization of Uranium is essential to meet our current and future energy security needs. The vision of the founding fathers of our nuclear programme, Jawaharlal Nehru and Homi Bhabha, was to achieve the mastery of the complete fuel cycle, thus enabling India to use our vast and abundant thorium resources in advanced nuclear power reactors. The reprocessing of spent fuel is therefore the key to our three stage indigenous nuclear power programme. Reprocessing is essential in the transition to the second stage of fast breeder reactors which we have begun, and in the subsequent third stage using thorium in advanced reactors.

Reprocessing spent fuel will also ensure that we are better able to manage the wastes which are by-products of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Tarapur, itself is an outstanding example of nuclear energy’s capacity to provide the clean, safe and economical energy that our nation requires for its development and growth. This site is home to the oldest boiling water reactors in the world. Here we have built our own reactors as well. And we have subsequently added the entire range of facilities covering the entire fuel cycle from fuel fabrication to reprocessing and waste immobilization.

Taken together, the atomic energy programme of India represents a very important and significant step towards technological and energy self-reliance and security. That we have done so by the efforts of our own scientists and engineers is tribute to the vision of the founders of our atomic energy programme. Given the advanced status of our indigenous programme and the capabilities of our scientists and engineers we can now confidently utilize the new opportunities that have been created with the opening up of international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.

As we move forward in the years to come to realize the potential of atomic energy to contribute to our nation’s development I would urge that we pay greater attention to capacity building, training and nurturing young and fresh talent which is in abundant supply in our country.

I once again congratulate all those who have played a role in this important landmark and who have contributed to the development of our capabilities in atomic energy. In their own way, each one of our scientists and engineers engaged in this very important national projects are nation builders. I commend you all for your dedication and your hard work and your commitment to the goal of our national development. I wish you even greater success in your service to our nation. I think each one of you on this historic occasion.”

*****


HS/LV

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

Govt of India press release....

PIB Press Release

The Prime Minister, DR. Manmohan Singh addressed the nation on the occasion of Commissioning of the Power Reactor Fuel Processing Plant at Tarapur. Following is the text of Prime Minister’s remarks on the occasion:

“I am delighted to be present at the historic occasion of the commissioning of the second Power Reactor Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur.

This is a significant milestone in our country’s three-stage indigenous nuclear programme. I heartily congratulate the scientists and engineers who were involved in the design, construction and commissioning of this unique complex and state of the art facility. This is yet another instance that once we make up our mind, India can do anything.

We have come a long way since the first reprocessing of spent fuel in India in the year 1964 at Trombay. The recycling and optimal utilization of Uranium is essential to meet our current and future energy security needs. The vision of the founding fathers of our nuclear programme, Jawaharlal Nehru and Homi Bhabha, was to achieve the mastery of the complete fuel cycle, thus enabling India to use our vast and abundant thorium resources in advanced nuclear power reactors. The reprocessing of spent fuel is therefore the key to our three stage indigenous nuclear power programme. Reprocessing is essential in the transition to the second stage of fast breeder reactors which we have begun, and in the subsequent third stage using thorium in advanced reactors.

Reprocessing spent fuel will also ensure that we are better able to manage the wastes which are by-products of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Tarapur, itself is an outstanding example of nuclear energy’s capacity to provide the clean, safe and economical energy that our nation requires for its development and growth. This site is home to the oldest boiling water reactors in the world. Here we have built our own reactors as well. And we have subsequently added the entire range of facilities covering the entire fuel cycle from fuel fabrication to reprocessing and waste immobilization.

Taken together, the atomic energy programme of India represents a very important and significant step towards technological and energy self-reliance and security. That we have done so by the efforts of our own scientists and engineers is tribute to the vision of the founders of our atomic energy programme. Given the advanced status of our indigenous programme and the capabilities of our scientists and engineers we can now confidently utilize the new opportunities that have been created with the opening up of international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.

As we move forward in the years to come to realize the potential of atomic energy to contribute to our nation’s development I would urge that we pay greater attention to capacity building, training and nurturing young and fresh talent which is in abundant supply in our country.

I once again congratulate all those who have played a role in this important landmark and who have contributed to the development of our capabilities in atomic energy. In their own way, each one of our scientists and engineers engaged in this very important national projects are nation builders. I commend you all for your dedication and your hard work and your commitment to the goal of our national development. I wish you even greater success in your service to our nation. I think each one of you on this historic occasion.”

*****


HS/LV

good news from nuclear self sufficiency point of views. cheers to scientists and engineers.

[Kinetic]

PM dedicates Tarapur reprocessing plant to nation
TNN, Jan 7, 2011, 11.44am IST

TARAPUR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today dedicated to the nation a 100-tonne annual capacity reprocessing plant at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre ( BARC) here which will use spent fuel from indigenous nuclear power plants for fast breeder reactors.

Congratulating engineers and scientists for constructing the sophisticated complex in the coastal region here in Thane district of Maharashtra, Singh said the reprocessing plant was essential for the country's closed-fuel-cycle three-stage nuclear programme.

"The spent fuel reprocessing plant is a milestone in India's three-stage nuclear programme," he said.

The plant is also essential for the transition from the first stage to the second (of the programme) for building fast breeder reactors to produce sustainable and clean energy for the country, Singh said.

"Tarapur itself will set an example of clean, economic and safe energy that our nation requires," he said.

The Prime Minister said the reprocessing plant is also essential for subsequent thorium utilisation.

He said the capabilities of the engineers and scientists could be utilised in new opportunities in international cooperation in nuclear energy.

Read more: PM dedicates Tarapur reprocessing plant to nation - The Times of India

PM dedicates Tarapur reprocessing plant to nation - The Times of India

[Nalwa]

A few days back a lot of hoopla from the Chinese side on newly acquired reprocessing capabilities. I didnt realize we have been doing it for more than 40 years. Kudos!!!

[Markus]

A few days back a lot of hoopla from the Chinese side on newly acquired reprocessing capabilities. I didnt realize we have been doing it for more than 40 years. Kudos!!!

Exactly, somebody forward this threads link to the Chinese members.

[Capt.Popeye]

This is'nt the first reprocessing plant in India or even in Tarapur for that matter. The first one in India was set up at Trombay in the later 60s. The first one in Tarapur was set up in the 70s. This Phase 2 has been necessitated by the requirements of the Nuclear Deal, where a clear delineation has been made about which reactors go under IAEA safeguards and which ones don't.

[Kinetic]

This is'nt the first reprocessing plant in India or even in Tarapur for that matter. The first one in India was set up at Trombay in the later 60s. The first one in Tarapur was set up in the 70s. This Phase 2 has been necessitated by the requirements of the Nuclear Deal, where a clear delineation has been made about which reactors go under IAEA safeguards and which ones don't.

You are rite. India kept it in mind before differentiating civilian and military atomic bases. They started work on these projects before nuclear deal talks were started. We will see some other major breakthroughs in recent months or with in next few years.

This reprocessing plant is new in many ways, not just another reprocessing plant. This is the second one in Tarapur. This is an important addition as far as our three stage nuclear rectors are concerned above all essential for advanced Th based reactors. As you know it can vastly increase the number of nuclear weapons as well...........


"The reprocessing of spent fuel is therefore the key to our three stage indigenous nuclear power programme. Reprocessing is essential in the transition to the second stage of fast breeder reactors which we have begun, and in the subsequent third stage using thorium in advanced reactors. Reprocessing spent fuel will also ensure that we are better able to manage the wastes which are by-products of the nuclear fuel cycle."

[Kinetic]

Not starting a new thread..... Some important developments....



India extends life of Fast Breeder Test Reactor by 20 years
14 February 2011


Mumbai: Indian nuclear scientists at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) have successfully extended the operational life of the 25-year-old 'workhorse' Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) by another 20 years.

IGCAR, Kalapakkam"We have extended the life of the FBTR for another 20 years up to 2030 at 50% operational capacity," said Baldev Raj, director of IGCAR, Kalpakkam.

"The workhorse reactor has completed 25 successful years. It has given confidence to the Indian scientists to go ahead and build the first 500 MW (electrical) Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) which is under advanced stage of construction; and at least four more fast breeder reactors (FBRs) by 2020," he said.

So far, the FBTR has not only been a test –bed for developing technologies but also a training ground for the operation and maintenance staff of PFBR. It will be the cradle that will turn out trained manpower for India's Fast Breeder Reactor programme.

"FBTR uses Plutonium-carbide fuel while the PFBR will be using mixed oxide (Plutonium-uranium oxide) fuel. But the future fast breeders will use Uranium-Plutonium alloy or Uranium-Plutonium-Zirconium," Raj said.

In the coming years, the major thrust of FBTR will be large-scale irradiation of the advanced metallic fuels and core structural materials required for the next generation fast reactors with high breeding ratios, he added.

For this, a programme for the fabrication of metallic fuel pins, their irradiation in FBTR, and closing the fuel cycle by pyro-reprocessing was in place.

Once this is successfully done, FBTR would have fulfilled its major mission in the Indian fast breeder reactor programme.

IGCAR is also exploring other applications like production of medical isotopes in FBTR.

"We expect to complete all these tests by 2020 so that we can build a metallic test reactor as a successor to FBTR," Raj said.

The designing of the 300 MW (thermal) metallic fast breeder test reactor will be completed by the end of 12th five-year plan and thereafter both FBTR and the new metallic test reactor will be operational simultaneously for a few years, Raj said, adding FBTR will be later shut down.

IGCAR's vast experience in the fast breeder technologies was also being used to contribute to the design and materials for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), Raj said.

domain-b.com : India extends life of Fast Breeder Test Reactor by 20 years

[Agnostic_Indian]

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to the scientists and our prime minister.