India to build 16 pressurized heavy water reactors

Plans to derive 63,000 MWe from nuclear power by 2032. The Department of Atomic Energy said the average annual availability of Indian nuclear power producers has remained at 90%. Six of the 19 operational reactors have logged continuous operation of over 300 days this year. DAE said Indian pressurized heavy water reactors are some of the most economical in the world. India is ready to sell these reactors and is currently building four: two each at Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbhatta in Rajasthan. It noted that India has brought down the price of a nuclear reactor to among the cheapest in the world. The prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam is close to completion. PFBR is expected to achieve criticality in about a year.