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Abstract: Presently the installed capacity of electricity generation in India is 160 GWe. The integrated ene rgy policy aims at an installed capacity of 778 GWe by 2031-32 to achieve per capita electricity consumption of 2700 kWh/year as against the 700 kWh/year. The share of nuclear power in India is around 3% presently. The increase in installed capacity is possible by increasing the share of nuclear power. India has opted for a unique three-stage power programme based on closed nuclear fuel cycle, which provides a multiplier effect through breeding. Consequent to the 123 agreement and clearance from Nuclear Supplier‟s Group (NSG) for international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, the reactor technology options are wide open. Some of the technologies which are being pursued are: Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) fueled with domestic Natural Uranium (NU), PHWRs fueled with imported Natural Uranium/Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU), Light Water Reactors (LWRs) procured from abroad using imported Lightly Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel, PHWRs with Reprocessed Uranium (RU) obtained from reprocessing spent fuel of LWRs, indigenous Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) using MOX/metallic fuel. The increase in the share of nuclear power through above technologies require setting up of fuel fabrication facilities such as: new PHWR Fuel Fabrication with indigenous sources, joint collaboration with foreign countries for fabricating fuel for imported LWRs, setting up PHWR fuel fabrication facilities with SEU/RU under international safeguards, setting up of enrichment and fuel fab rication facilities for indigenous PWRs and a series of fast reactor fuel fabrication facilities for fabricating fuel for FBRs. In addition to fuel fabrication facilities, facilities for manufacturing zirconium alloy and stainless steel structurals, tubes and components are also required to be set up. The paper gives in detail the emerging nuclear fuel fabrication activities in India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A laboratory scale facility has been set up for fabrication of test fuel pins through sol-gel route for irradiation in FBTR, Kalpakkam. The facility is a train of glove boxes fitted with master slave manipulators for carrying out various operations involved in the fuel fabricat ion process. The paper describes the design features of the equipment and mechanisms for automation, developed for microsphere production and other processes. The design features include control system and vision systems for man- machine interface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Minor actinides constitute a significant contribution to the long term radiotoxicity of spent fuel. Their separation from spent fuel, fabrication and irradiation in homogeneous or heterogeneous reactor recycling modes provides a means to dramatically reduce their impact. Several challenges must be overcome in the separation and fabrication steps. Advanced robust fabrication processes are required to minimise dust and to produce fuels specifically designed to optimise their destruction through neutron irradiation. At the Institute for Transuranium Elements fabrication routes based on sol gel and infiltration have been developed to meet these demands. Dedicated fuels and targets have been produced and their irradiation behaviour is being tested. Fuels based on MOX and UO2 are being tested with respect to Gen IV fast reactor initiatives. Furthermore, dedicated minor actinide transmutation fuels based on the inert matrix concept (e.g. (Zr,Y,Am)O2 and Mo based (Pu,Am)O2 composite fuels) have been produced for application in the double strata concept, whereby the minor actinides should be transmuted in an ADS. Achievements and current status of these programmesare presented and discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The three stage Indian nuclear power programme envisages efficient use of its modest uranium resources and full exploitation of its vast Thorium resources. Indian economy is on a fast growth track. The growth in population and economy is creating huge demand for energy which has to be met with environmentally benign technologies. Nuclear Energy is best suited to meet this demand without causing undue environmental impact. In view of limited resources of Uranium and vast resources of Thorium, a closed fuel cycle to fully exploit the potential of the two resources is co nsidered essential. In conformity with such a strategy, Recycle fuel fabrication technologies have been under development in India for over three decades. Some of the activities such as (i) Fabrication and development of MOX fuels for LWRs/PHWRS (ii) Fabrication of mixed carbide and mixed oxide fuels for Fast Reactors (iii) Research and development in Metallic Fuels for Fast Reactors and (iv) Development of fuels for Thorium utilization - are briefly discussed in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]