Indian firms may get Rs 2,500 cr fusion project

The Indian industry may receive contracts worth Rs 2,500 crore from the International Thermo-nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.

Many of the critical reactor components, including the main reactor chamber, of the 500 mw project will be manufactured and shipped from India.

Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, told the Business Standard that several critical components other than the chamber itself, such as reactor valves, shields and vaults will be manufactured in India for the ITER project.

India is one of the full members of the ITER group. Kakodkar said that India was contributing nine per cent of the project cost in terms of components.

He added that the details are yet to be finalised.

ITER is a joint international research and development project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion reactions for commercial power generation.

Other members include European Union (represented by EURATOM), Japan, the People´s Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the US.

ITER will be constructed in Europe, at Cadarache in the South of France.

The ITER project, Kakodkar said, will take about 10 years to become operational and another 10-15 years of experimentation after which the participants will be free to implement the technological breakthroughs in their respective countries.

He added that joining the ITER group is part of the country's planning for future energy security. Nuclear fusion is considered an environmentally safer alternative to fission-based reactors.

Kakodkar also said that the government was considering allowing private participation in nuclear power generation with either the National Thermal Power Corporation or the Nuclear Power Corporation of India as partners.

Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1948, only entities with 51 per cent government holdings can participate in nuclear power projects.

The Centre holds the majority stake in both these power companies. Several private players, both Indian and foreign, have expressed an interest in setting up nuclear power plants in the country. They include Tata Power and the French company Areva.