Uranium shortage hit nuclear power generation target in 11th Plan

New Delhi: The target of nuclear energy generation under 11th Plan could not be achieved because of non availability of uranium, the government said today.The target of nuclear energy generation in the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) was 1,63,395 Million Units (MUs), which was revised to 1,24,608 MUs.[caption id="attachment_1631079" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kudankulam nuclear power plant. PTI[/caption] But the actual generation in the 11th Five Year Plan was 1,09,642 MUs. "The shortfall in generation in the XI five Year Plan was on account of non-availability of indigenous uranium in the required quantity, delay in fruition of international cooperation resulting in delay in availability of imported uranium and revision of completion schedule of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) and Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) projects to XII Five Year Plan," Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Department of Atomic Energy said in written reply to Lok Sabha.The KKNPP Unit-1, with a capacity of 1000 MW, has until 13 July 2014 generated 2565 MUs. The plant was connected to grid in October 2013.In response to another question, Singh said the present nuclear power capacity of 4,870 MW and will reach 10,080 MW on progressive completion of nuclear power projects under commissioning/ construction. The 12th Five Year Plan includes start of work on 19 new power reactors with a total capacity of 17,400 MW. PTI