Substitute for N-application developed

HYDERABAD, March 22: The post-Pokharan sanctions imposed on India have proved to be a blessing in disguise for scientists and engineers at the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) here, who have responded to the challenge by developing and producing Zircaloy-4 import substitutes for both nuclear and non-nuclear applications.

The Nuclear Fuel Complex has now achieved an all-time high in production, with 300 tonnes of natural uranium oxide fuel for the eight operating pressurised heavywater reactors (PHWR) and two forthcoming PHWR 220 MW units at Kaiga and Rawatbhatta (RAPP-III), which are likely to be commissioned this year.

Nuclear Fuel Complex has already supplied the entire 4,000 Zircaloy clad fuel required for Kaiga-II and half the fuel charge for RAPP-III.