Russia looking to expand civil nuclear partnership with India to desalination sector

[P@nThEr]

MOSCOW: Russia is looking to expand its civil nuclear partnership with India beyond power generation and may even offer technology for desalination of water if Delhi makes such a request, according to Andrey V Nikipelov, CEO of Atomenergomash, a subsidiary of Atomenergoprom, state owned holding company which owns nuclear enterprises of Russia.

“Desalination is a new business whose market is increasing. Kazakhstan has one such desalination facility built by Russia. We are now developing integrated nuclear projects that also includes component of desalination. While currently we have no such plans in India if Delhi makes such a request we will consider it,” Nikipelov told a select group of Indian media persons on the side lines of Atomexpo (world’s biggest civil nuclear energy exposition) here.

Rosatom’s desalination facilities integrated with a source of electrical energy could be implemented on the basis of NPP evaporation technologies, at floating nuclear power plants, and to ensure the supply of power for population centres and industries, as well as for a Nuclear Power Plant’s own needs, according to a Rosatom statement.

The NPP produces large amounts of heat and steam, which is why a desalination facility integrated into a nuclear power plant is capable of ensuring supplies to areas with a population of up to one million people. Rosatom possesses a generalized solution for the integration of a desalination facility into an NPP based on the VVER 1000 or VVER1200 type reactors. Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu has the provision to provide water supplies to the nearby population. Such plans are also in the offing for proposed Russian NPPs in Egypt and Latin America.

Atomenergomash is the main equipment provider for Rosatom’s nuclear power projects both in Russia and abroad including for Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP). “We undertake from drawing to design to supply of equipment for reactors. This includes KNPP in India, four nuclear power units in Turkey besides reactors in Belarus, Iran, Hungary and Egypt. We follow specific regulations of host country if there is such like in Finland,” informed Nikipelov.

When asked how different or better are Russian nuclear reactors from reactors produced by other nations Nikipelov noted that equipment made by one country cannot be compared with that of the other. “We undertake strictest quality control for reactor equipment produced by us. Onethird of total time of 3436 months taken for every equipment is devoted to quality control. Strictest quality control measures are undertaken by Atomenergomash as a safety control measure.”

Atomenergomash was founded in 2006 as a holding company of several manufacturers of nuclear power plants' components. Atomenergoprom is part of Rosatom, Russia’s apex nuclear body.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...rtnership-with-india/articleshow/59233211.cms

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

I think we already have lots of desalination plant (atleast in TN) with western technology. Second, Russians are always welcome to bid for the tender and win it. Its not the old days time where projects are given to 1 country alone based on friendship. Indian laws have been changed which mandates tenders for most of civilian projects. Good tech plus low bid. Then welcome.

 

[kadamba-warrior]

I think we already have lots of desalination plant (atleast in TN) with western technology. Second, Russians are always welcome to bid for the tender and win it. Its not the old days time where projects are given to 1 country alone based on friendship. Indian laws have been changed which mandates tenders for most of civilian projects. Good tech plus low bid. Then welcome.

Agreed, but I think OP is talking about desalination plants that are integrated with the Nuclear plants - which offer much higher efficiency since they make use of the heat and steam generated as a byproduct of the Nuclear plant.

Since the same company that is building Kudankoolam Nuclear power plant, is offering an integrated desalination plant as well, I think it probably makes more economical sense due to increased efficiency and less lost heat/steam.