New Delhi, December 14 (IANS). Bhabha Atomic Research Center or BARC is planning to build a large Research and Development (R&D) campus in Andhra Pradesh. This project is an important step towards strengthening India’s nuclear science and advanced reactor technology.
This proposed campus will be built in Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh and its area will be approximately 3,000 acres. According to documents reviewed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, BARC has sought permission from the Andhra Pradesh government to utilize 148.15 hectares of forest land for the project.
The ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee reviewed the proposal and recommended giving it “in-principle approval” so that the first portion of the new land can be given for the project.
Officials said that BARC has already acquired 1,200 hectares or about 3,000 acres of revenue land for this project. The proposed forest land is located adjacent to the land already acquired and is important for the overall layout of the campus.
This new campus will support BARC’s growing role in nuclear research, reactor development and advanced energy technologies. This step is being taken at a time when the government is emphasizing on indigenous nuclear innovation and clean energy solutions.
Earlier this month, the government told Parliament that BARC has already started the design and development of small modular reactors. This includes the 200 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor, 55 MW Small Modular Reactor and high-temperature gas-cooled reactor for hydrogen generation.
These reactors will be built for technology demonstration at official Department of Atomic Energy sites and construction work is likely to begin after project approval.
The central government has also emphasized on promoting international cooperation in the nuclear sector. India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Russia’s Rosatom have discussed possibilities of cooperation on large and small nuclear power projects, including installation of Russian-designed small modular reactors in India and local manufacturing of equipment.
–IANS
Durgesh Bahadur/ABM
