Mumbai, July 10: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) has offered to share technology with the domestic industry to achieve its target of activating a 500 mw nuclear energy plant a year. The NPCIL has got an assurance from the government of long-term credit arrangement through official financial institutions.

The NPCIL poohpoohed the recent US decision of imposing yet another ban on supplying sophisticated equipment and instruments. ``We do not buy any equipment from them. We are least bothered about such steps. We can add 20,00 mw nuclear energy capacity without any foreign help,'' managing director YSR Prasad said.

Prasad said Indian nuclear technology was 10 times safer than US-built nuclear reactors and NPCIL was even ready to take up similar projects abroad.He said that until industry made investments, he would like the central government to allocate Rs 1,200 crore a year either as budgetary support or as long-term credit from financial institutions like UTI, LIC and Employees Provident Fund Orgnaisation.

Prasad said the government had promised to consider its suggestions so that it could go for building up the cheapest energy source. The erection of a nuclear plant was slightly more expensive than a thermal plant but its running cost was much less. He cited the instance of Tarapur plant, which even after two decades produced power at 70 paise a unit. He also called for rationalisation of tariff norms. The SEBs owed Rs 1,900 crore to NPCIL and now he had taken a tough stance to divert the power of the defaulting SEBS. So far, Gujarat and UP power had been diverted and it would not be restored till the respective SEBs signed a letter of intent with NPCIL.

He said tariff should progressively rise to make operations viable. ``The tariff should be fixed on the replaceable value of a nuclear plant and not on its book value. This has not only led to the aberration of having multiple rates but, also, some of the operations were commercially less profitable. At Tarapur, NPCIL is getting 70 paise a unit, RAPS (Rajasthan) and MAPS (Madras) Re 1, at Kakrapar (Gujarat) Rs 2 and Narora (UP) Rs 1.70.'' Standardised tariff would help NPCIL generate resources for its future programmes.

NPCIL performance was good. The plant load factor on an average was 85 per cent to 90 per cent. This called for laying more stress and attention to this sector.

The country had enough experience and technology to build world class nuclear power plants with indigenous equipment and technology. ``The forex outgo was the minimal in a nuclear plant. For the two 220 mw units at Kakrapar, only 2 per cent of the total Rs 1,385 crore was in foreign exchange,'' Prasad said.He expressed his dismay that despite immense potential, not enough importance was being accorded. The worse was that even after a commitment, funds were not made available for Tarapur plant expansion.

Boiler, pumps and other sophisticated equipment purchased years ago for the two 500 mw plants had to be put in mothballs. He hoped the recent announcement by prime minister IK Gujral would be followed by required support. During Ninth Plan, NPCIL should be given a fund support of Rs 1,200 crore a year, he said. Later it could go up to Rs 3,000 crore. He was not in favour of raising funds either through the equity route or through bonds. The country's need for power was enormous. He suggested that for faster evacuation, investment must be made in the distribution sector.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.