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Nuclear power target doubled

Special Correspondent

TARAPUR: Anticipating international nuclear cooperation following the Indo-U.S. deal, India has raised its nuclear power target of 20,000 MWe by 2020 to 40,000 MWe by 2030.

"With the possibility of opening up of the civilian nuclear cooperation, we are trying to get additional capacity and accelerate our own domestic programme," Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), told reporters after the country's second 540 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor here attained criticality on Sunday. This raised the installed nuclear power capacity to 4120 MWe.

The new reactor designated Tarapur Atomic Power Project-3 and its twin, TAPP-4 would not be classified as civilian facility under the proposed separation plan. Dr. Kakodkar said India was also negotiating with France and Russia and was going ahead with all pre-project work at sites in Jaitapur and Koodankulam for getting four 1000 MWe light water reactors.

When asked about the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statement that India would have to be prepared for concessions in the bilateral understanding of July 18 last year, he said the country's stand was that cooperation would be within the framework of the understanding reached.

He did not rule out the possibility of the Government amending the Atomic Energy Act to allow private participation in the nuclear sector. "However, the Department of Atomic Energy will continue to exercise strict control over the nuclear material," he said.

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