The rupee depreciation will not impact the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd as it has already imported the required quantities of uranium.

Mr SK Jain CMD of NPCIL told IANS that "We do not import on monthly basis. We have already imported the required quantities of uranium and the rupee depreciation will not impact us.”

According to Mr Jain, tariffs are not affected due to rise in fuel costs or rupee depreciation. The fuel cost in a nuclear power project constitutes just a fifth of generation cost. He said that "We have 10 years' fuel for the Kudankulam reactors and it is stored in just one room.”

The first unit of two 1,000 MW atomic power reactor at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is expected to start power generation some time next month, while the commercial production is expected to happen this August.

Mr Jain said that "The process of removing the dummy fuel will be over in couple of days and the real fuel will be loaded after that. The KNPP power will be sold at INR 2.65 per unit despite the delay and the consequent increase in the project cost.”

He added that "However, the exact rate at which the Kudankulam power would be sold will be known only after the reactor is commissioned and full capacity is reached.”

Stressing the importance of nuclear power to secure the energy needs of the country, Mr Jain said thermal power is polluting while solar and wind power are uncertain. He said that "The success of solar power in India is a big question mark given the dust levels. Dust will settle on the solar panels which have to be cleaned.”

Source - IANS

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