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Best energy practices followed in Kalpakkam: top official

Special Correspondent

Advanced Heavy Water Reactors to be completed by 2016

The Fast Breeder Reactors, when ready, will generate 500 MW at rate of Rs. 3.22 a unit

— Photo: A.Muralitharan

IGCAR director Baldev Raj addressing the workshop organised by SRM University, Kattankulathur, on Thursday.

TAMBARAM: Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam has been implementing programmes to recycle and reuse a good quantity of the water used in its reactors and townships, its director Baldev Raj said on Thursday.

Speaking at a national workshop on ‘environmental sustainability’ organised by Department of Bio Technology of SRM University, Kattankulathur, he said it was part of the “Best Energy Practices” being followed at the facility that matched the best of the standards followed across the world. The total water consumption in the reactors and residential localities was “7 mega gallons a day,” Dr. Raj said.

A good quantity of it was already being recycled and re used, he said, adding that they had set a target of recycling and reusing “1.5 mega gallons a day” in the next two years. Pointing out that IGCAR was well aware of the energy needs and importance of conservation, he said, “minimum use of energy and water management” were the objectives at the facility. “We have been working with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, the Exnora and the Gujarat-based Mehta Foundation for conservation of water and solid waste management,” Dr. Raj said.

On other developments, he said Advanced Heavy Water Reactors would be completed by 2016. “IGCAR is the capital of Fast Reactors in the world. The United States’ Congress realised that it would greatly benefit if it worked with India in this field,” Dr. Raj said.

Once completed in 2010, the Fast Breeder Reactors would be able to generate 500 MW of electricity at the rate of Rs. 3.22 per unit, he said. For a country like India, electricity generated from atomic energy and non-conventional and non-polluting sources are important considering the ever increasing demand for power. He pointed out to France, where 80 per cent of the total power requirements was met with electricity generated from atomic energy. “In France, the levels of carbon dioxide released by each citizen were much lower than those in the U.S., Germany and the U.K.,” he said.

Referring to a tie-up between the IGCAR and the SRM University, he said the understanding would be of mutual benefit and that students would be able to experience high-end technology. T.R. Pachamuthu and P. Sathyanarayanan, Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively, spoke.

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