Nuclear Thread - 4

[Arun_S]

Pls note that GE sells Hitachi's reactors. And Hitachi's backlog with current booking itself is abysmal.



[url="http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/12/11/stories/2009121151330300.htm"]Nuclear Power Corpn hopes to buy land for projects in 18 months[/url]

Mumbai, Dec. 10



Nuclear Power Corporation of India is confident of completing the land acquisition process for its five coastal-based plants in the next 18 months, said Mr S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, on Thursday. He was speaking to reporters on the occasion of the visit of the 5th US Commercial Nuclear Delegation.



Mr Jain said NPCIL planned to create nuclear parks of up to 10,000 MW at each site. “We have put a target of 18 months for acquiring the land, pre-project activity and creating basic infrastructure at the site,” he said.



“We hope that with the active support from the State governments. It should be possible to achieve the target. Specific clearances from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and from the Ministry of Environment and Forest are also being fast-tracked,” Mr Jain said.



Each park would have minimum of six reactors of 1,000 or 1,650 MW totalling about 10,000 MW. The Centre has given clearances to create the parks at Andhra Pradesh (Kowada), Gujarat (Chhayamithi Virdi), Maharashtra (Jaitapur), West Bengal (Haripur) and Tamil Nadu (Koodankulam). Mr Jain said that in the last four years NPCIL had effectively negotiated with vendors such as GE Hitachi and Westinghouse for the supply of reactors, “A fairly good amount of understanding has been reached in term of technological knowledge of the US companies and competitiveness of India industry and how they could be married together,” he said.



Mr Daniel Roderick, Senior Vice-President, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, said the company has been associated with the Indian nuclear industry for the last 45 years.



It will bring the most updated technology for the reactors, he said.



He added that given the sheer number of highly technical and skilled manufacturers in India, GE Hitachi would be able to service the global supply chain from here.