Areva addresses safety concern,closer to nod

In a significant step forward for Areva SAs Jaitapur project,a technical concern raised by Indias nuclear operator on the need for further reinforcement of safety features

In a significant step forward for Areva SAs Jaitapur project,a technical concern raised by Indias nuclear operator on the need for further reinforcement of safety features proposed in the third-generation French EPR reactors has now been addressed by the worlds biggest nuclear firm.

A faster regulatory clearance on the Jaitapur project could make Areva the second foreign firm,after Russias Atomstroyexport,to get a toe-hold in Indias nuclear sector. The issue pertaining to the interlinking of safety systems and control systems in the EPR model to be deployed at Jaitapur has been addressed through a redesign of the architecture of the crucial instrumentation and control systems,a government official involved in the exercise said.

A set of two 1,650 MWe (mega watt electric) EPR units are to be deployed in the first phase of the proposed project in coastal Maharashtra,which could ultimately house six such reactor units to emerge as the largest nuclear power station (single location) in the world.

Story continues below this ad

Late last year,in the course of a technical review,the state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) had found that the original set of computer systems accompanying French nuclear major Arevas EPR reactor units needed further reinforcement to meet the regulatory requirements. After the concerns were raised,modifications of computer-based system for the control and instrumentation architecture package of the twin EPR units (formerly called European Pressurised Reactor) to be deployed at Jaitapur had been sought to meet all safety and regulatory requirements of the regulator (the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board). This has now been addressed, an official said.

The control and instrumentation system essentially monitors and controls the stations performance and oversees overall nuclear safety. Similar observations with respect to the control and instrumentation package accompanying the EPR a third generation pressurised water reactor design were expressed by other atomic sector regulators such as the NRC (US),STUK (Finland),HSE (UK),ASN (France).

As of now,four EPR units are under construction worldwide. The first two,in Finland and France,are facing costly construction delays.

Construction commenced on two additional Chinese units in 2009 and 2010. At present,for the Jaitapur project,techno-commercial negotiations between NPCIL and Areva for setting up 2×1650 MWe (mega watt electrical) EPRs are in advanced stages while the site evaluation report has been submitted to AERB for the siting clearance.

Story continues below this ad

While long-running opposition to the proposed project has intensified in the wake of the nuclear incident in Japan,government officials express confidence that the construction of the first phase will start early into the current (Twelfth) Plan period. The gestation period (from first pour of concrete to commercial operation) of the EPRs is about 66 months. Discussions between NPCIL and Areva are in final stages to evolve a business model of shared scope of work so as to arrive at a viable tariff comparable to that of contemporary electricity generating plants in the region.

The safety clearances for nuclear power projects are accorded by the AERB in a stage-wise manner siting,construction,equipment erection,commissioning,fuel loading,criticality and power operation.