India's nuclear buildout and Dutch molten-salt reactor research notch milestones

· Energy · India · Netherlands

India's nuclear program posted several milestones. Technical studies began onsite for Kakrapar units 5 and 6, two 700 MWe reactors planned in Gujarat; the Nuclear Fuels Complex is making steam generator tubes for the fleet-mode construction project; and a small modular reactor project reached a design milestone. In the Netherlands, molten salt reactor developer Thorizon and research organization TNO launched a materials and corrosion programme to generate data and models needed to qualify materials for such reactors. Both point to the long lead times and testing required before new reactor designs reach construction.

Why it matters：Reactor construction and materials qualification are the milestones that determine when new nuclear capacity arrives.

Key points

  • Kakrapar units 5 and 6 are two 700 MWe reactors planned for Gujarat.
  • Thorizon and TNO will generate data to qualify materials for molten salt reactors.

Sources (original reporting)

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