ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Sanctions have proved a blessing in disguise, say scientists

The Hyderabad-based Nuclear Fuel Complex has produced, for the first time in the country, zircaloy-4, a material for nuclear and non-nuclear applications, using a novel technique.

NFC Chief Executive Dr C Ganguly announced this at a press conference in Hyderabad today.

Ganguly said the economic sanctions had proved a blessing in disguise as they had compelled NFC scientists and engineers to develop zircaloy-4 square channels using a novel technique -- an import substitution starting with zircon sand as the raw material.

The NFC, he said, had produced zircaloy pipings including flanges, bends and T-joints for acetic acid plants in fertiliser and other chemical industries in the country.

He said the NFC had achieved a record production of nearly 300 tons of natural uranium oxide fuel in 1998-99 for the eight operating pressurised heavy water reactors and the two forthcoming PHWR 220 megawatt units at Kaiga (Kaiga-II) and Rawatbhatta (RAPP-III). They are likely to be commissioned by the middle of 1999.

Nearly 4,000 zircaloy-clad fuel bundles containing 60 tons of uranium oxide fuel are required in a PHWR 220 MW unit. The NFC has already supplied the entire fuel for Kaiga-II and half the fuel charge for RAPP-III. The balance 2000 fuel bundles for RAPP-III will be delivered by April end of 1999, he said.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report