India Atomic Energy Year review 2017

Year Review 2017: Department of Atomic Energy

• The Second Unit (1000 MWe) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) went into commercial operation on March 31, 2017. With this the installed nuclear power capacity has become 6780 MWe.
•  
  

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (Units 1, 2)

The Government of India has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for taking up construction of 10 indigenous PHWRs of 700 MWe in fleet mode and establishing 2 more reactors at Kudankulam. This initiative is expected to go a long way in reviving our sagging high technology industries by ensuring continuity of orders.

• The construction of KKNPP Units 3&4 has commenced with the First Pour of Concrete on the 29^th of June 2017.

• In the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) front, after completion of construction, the commissioning activities are making steady progress while fulfilling all the safety requirements.
  

 Overall view of PFBR

• India has signed Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh in April this year along with two more complementary Agreements. We are collaborating with our Russian and Bangladeshi partners on establishing Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.

• A 4.6 Meter Ship Borne Terminal (SBT) developed by DAE was integrated on a ship and deployed in Deep Sea. The SBT successfully tracked the ISRO launch Vehicle PSLV-C38 during Cartosat-2E mission on 23^rd June, 2017.

                                      Ship Borne Terminal (SBT)

• A 1000m^3/ Water Treatment Plant at holy Shiv Ganga Pond of Baba Baidyanath Temple, Deoghar (Jharkhand) has been commissioned and inaugurated on July 9, 2017. The plant is providing water confirming to
  standard for outdoor bathing as per IS 2296.

• In the Cancer care sector, DAE has started major expansion by taking up construction/ up-gradation of 6 additional facilities throughout the country. This will help in doubling number of new patients treated from the present figure of 70,000 in the next 4 - 5 years.
•  
  

 DAE has developed a low-cost handheld 12-channel Tele-ECG machine which records all 12 ECG channels simultaneously and sends the report generated to the mobile phone of a doctor for advice. The device is suited for diagnostic purposes at remote rural locations, saving crucial time normally required to shift the patient to a diagnostic centre.

12 Channel Tele-ECG Instrument

In the frontier science area, DAE is establishing a small underground research laboratory in one of the uranium mines for pursuing research on dark matter. This will enthuse scientists from all generations.

 The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) achieved second highest production. This could be achieved in spite of many hurdles.

Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) has also given highest ever production of fuel elements, zirconium sponge, and other materials.

37 element natural uranium oxide fuel bundle

PFBR fuel sub assembly

36 Element enriched Uranium fuel bundle for BWR

This year the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) has bagged record orders, especially due to election related equipment and fuses for Indian Army. Their turnover was also one of the highest.

               

Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) has achieved its highest ever sales turnover and has been able to supply the radio-isotopes to every corner of the country.

Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) has seen a turnaround from major losses to moderate profit during this year. Their turnover has also increased significantly during this period. This happened in spite of various constraints faced by them.

                                      Environment friendly dredging / excavation process