Vision 2000 involves the setting up of more nuclear power plants, with five fast breeder reactors generating 2,500mw, heavy water reactors generating 10,000mw and about 8,000mw will be generated by light water reactors, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomoc Research (ICGAR) Kalpakkam director P Rodriguez said.

The fast breeder reactors will be co-locational with the heavy water reactors, while fuel reprocessing and fabrication plants will be co-locational, to avoid transportation of irradiated material across the country, Rodriguez said. India's heavy water reactors are located at Kota, Narora, Kakrapar, Kaiga and Tarapur.

At present, the IGCAR is developing the prototype for a 500mw fast breeder reactor, which will go on stream by 2008. Construction will begin in 2002. The reactor design has been changed andenvisages the use of two pumps. The project, evaluated in March 1996 was expected to cost Rs 2,900 crore. However, it will eventually cost about Rs 3,500 crore, factoring in inflation but based totally on budgetary support. Rodriguez was confident that budgetary support would be forthcoming, adding that should they have to borrow, interest costs would push up the cost of the project.

While unit cost of nuclear power production in 2008 is projected at Rs 4.25, this is based on the premise of full budgetary support for the project. Should the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) build it with a 1:1 equity ratio, cost of production per unit would rise to Rs 5.25. Power rates are expected to be at this level by then, he added.

Rodriguez was in Pune to inaugurate the 3rd national conference on fluid mechanics and fluid power (FMFP).