New Delhi: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has approved Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited’s (NPCIL) proposal to set up four units of 700 MWe each of indigenously-developed nuclear reactors at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan. In an official order, the AERB said that the approval has been granted after a three-tier review subject to satisfactory compliance to the stipulations and conditions specified by the board. “This Consent is valid for five years from the date of issuance of the Consent, i.e., till May 07, 2030,” said the AERB.
NPCIL submitted an application to the AERB, seeking its consent for setting up four 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) at Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP). “The consent will be subjected to re-review for any non-compliance to the stipulations and conditions. The Consent shall not be transferable without the prior approval of the competent authority,” the nuclear regulator said.
The nuclear power project is being implemented by Anushakti Vidyut Nigam, a joint venture between NPCIL and NTPC. In June 2017, the government accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for setting up 10 indigenous 700 MWe PHWRs in fleet mode. The total capacity to be added by these 10 reactors would be 7,000 MW. This capacity is expected to be progressively added by the year 2031. In addition to four units at Mahi Banswara, the government has plans to set up nuclear reactors at Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (two units), Kaiga in Karnataka (two units) and Gorakhpur in Rajasthan (two units).