Konkan to go Nuclear

Madban, a small, sleepy village along the picturesque Konkan coast, has been keenly tracking the Indo-US nuclear deal. Because this tiny hamlet would probably bear the first visible sign of India’s nuclear resurgence. It will house a giant 10,000-mw power plant that will run on imported uranium.The Rs 50,000-crore plant, the country’s biggest once commissioned, is slated to come up at Madban Village in Rajapur taluka of Ratnagiri district along the Konkan coast. As planned, it would be a third generation design for a European pressurised water reactor (EPR).A study by the Konkan Agriculture Univserity has concluded that the proposed project will not affect the region’s biodiversity. The Konkan university, which was engaged by National Environment Engineering Research Institute, studied an area falling within a 26-km radius of the project site from January 2007 to December 2007. The findings of the survey were submitted last month. The study found that the region has some endangered species and mangroves, but the proposed project would not in any way threaten their existence. According to Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) sources, efforts are on to run the proposed project with advanced EPRs designed and developed by Areva and Electric de France in France and Siemens in Germany. The plant will have six units of 1,600 mw each, estimated to cost over Rs 50,000 crore. As per the initial plan, NPCIL will contribute 30% of equity while the rest will be raised through various instruments, including loans from multilateral agencies.Sources also indicate that with the US promising to help, the Indian nuclear establishment has ramped up the plant capacity up to 10,000 mw from 6,000 mw as planned earlier. Unlike other nuclear projects that have pressurised heavy water reactors, the proposed one may install light water reactors which will be fed 2-3% enriched uranium. However, sources said the final picture about the project will be clear only after a detailed project report is ready.The state government has been asked to expedite land acquisition for the proposed project. Interestingly, the Union energy ministry, which had planned to set up a 4,000-mw ultra mega power project nearby, had to shelve its proposal following strong opposition from the locals. The Dabhol power plant is nearby too.Once it becomes operational, it will be the second atomic power generating centre in Maharashtra after Tarapur, which houses the county’s first nuclear power generators.