GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Department of Atomic Energy

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3256
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2010
FBR Installed at Kalpakkam

3256. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

a)    whether the commissioning of India's first Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) being erected at Kalpakkam near Chennai in Tamilnadu for commercial energy generation is running behind schedule and is likely to be delayed by two years;

b) if so, reasons for delay;

c) the details of the ^.project; and

d) the extent to which the power generation is likely to get a boost?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI V NARAYANASAMY)

(a)) Yes, Sir.

(b)&(c) The first commercial Fast Breeder Reactor being built in India is an advanced technology reactor built by indigenous resources. Fast Breeder Reactor Technology (FBR) is a new technology, different from Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) for which substantial experience has been gained in India. Before launching the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) project, technology development was done. However, industries faced few new scaling up technological issues when the reactor equipment manufacture was taken up. Due to this the industries required additional time for manufacture of components. Further when the raft construction was in progress. Tsunami struck the site. This resulted in additional time for rehabilitation activities.

(d) On commissioning of FBR, the power generation is likely to get a boost by 500 MW.