Jaitapur Nuclear Project

Why in news?

• India-France strategic dialogue this week has led to forward movement over 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power plant over reactor pricing issues with state-run Electricite de France (EDF) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).

On Jaitapur Nuclear Project:

• Jaitapur Nuclear Project is a proposed 9900 MW project on the Arabian Sea coast of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.
• State-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is the builder and operator of this plant.
• It will be built under Indo-France Civil Nuclear Deal signed in December 2010.
• It will have 6 European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) each of 1650 MW designed and developed by Areva of France.
• On completion, Jaitapur power plant would be world’s largest nuclear power generating station by net electrical power rating.

On European Pressurized Reactor (EPR):

• EPR is a third-generation pressurized water reactor (PWR).
• In a PWR, the primary coolant (water) is pumped under high pressure to the reactor core to be heated.
• This water exchanges heat with another system to create steam which is sent to turbine for power generation.

Other Nuclear Reactor types of India:

• Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactor (PHWR): Uses natural uranium as its fuel and heavy water (deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant and neutron moderator.
• Boiling Water Reactor (BWR): In BWRs, the reactor core itself heats water, which turns to steam and then drives a steam turbine.
• Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR): FBRs generate more fissile material than it consumes. They use a mix of oxide made from Pt 239 and natural uranium as fuel.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following pairs of nuclear power plants and the state where they are located/ are being planned:
1.Jaitapur – Maharashtra
2.Kovvada – Andhra Pradesh
3.Chutka – Madhya Pradesh
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly paired?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1,2 and 3 only

Answer to Prelims Question