India approves heavy water reactors in two states

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Tuesday approved purchase of equipment for implementation of two 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors each in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

"The estimated expenditure for the two projects is 16.8 billion rupees," Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told a news conference after a cabinet meeting.

He said purchase of the equipment is a prerequisite for the timely completion of the project. The equipment will be sourced from Indian manufacturers, he added.

Two boiling water reactors and 15 pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) with total installed capacity of 4120 MW are currently in operation in India, according to a government statement.

Three 220 MW PWHR and 1000 MW light water reactors with a total capacity of 2660 MW are at an advanced stage of construction.

Construction work has also started on one 500 MW fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, signifying the launch of the second stage of the nuclear power programme.

With the completion of these projects the total nuclear power capacity in the country will reach 7280 megawatt by 2011, it said.