India 2018

Scientific and Technological Developments 485
and international cooperation in related areas of research; and (v) contribution
to national security. An integrated group of organizations, the department
comprises five research centres, three industrial organisations, five public sector
undertakings and three service organisations. It has two boards for promoting
and funding extramural research in nuclear and allied fields, and mathematics.
It also supports seven institutes of international repute, engaged in research in
basic sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, cancer research, education, etc. and a
society that provides educational facilities to the children of DAE employees.
DAE has wide ranging capabilities in uranium mining and mineral
procesing, and is self-suficient inthe production of heavy water, zirconium alloy
components and other materials and supplies, for pressurised heavy water
reactor. The Nuclear Fuel Complex at Hyderabad manufactures fuel assemblies
for pressurised heavy water reactors, boiling water reactors and fast breeder
reactor.
Heavy Water Board
The Heavy Water Board has contributed successfully to the first stage of Nuclear
Power Programme by producing heavy water for all Pressurised Heavy Water
Reactors in a cost effective manner enabling the department to provide nuclear
power at an affordable cost to common man. Presently, the Board is not only
self-sufficient in meeting the domestic demand of heavy water, but is also geared
up to supply heavy water for the future PHWRs and AHWRs as per the
envisioned nuclear power programme of DAE. Over a period of time, HWB
has emerged as the largest global producer and a trusted supplier of this strategic
material.
HWB has made major progress on its extended mandate in the field of
development, demonstration and deployment of technologies for in-core and
out of core material inputs for Indian Nuclear Power Programme, required at
the front-end as well as back-end of nuclear fuel cycle mainly centering around
three broad areas such as solvents for front and back end hydrometallurgical
operations of nuclear fuel cycle; demonstrating solvent extraction technology
for extraction of various rare materials and producing stable isotopes like 10 B
for Fast Breeder Reactors and 18 O
for societal applications.
Solvent Technology
In the area of solvents, both the industrial facilities at HWP, Baroda and Talcher
for production of TBP (Tributyl Phosphate) and D2EHPA have performed very
well enabling HWB to meet the entire requirement of NFC, NRB and all other
units of DAE.
Developmental efforts have already been put in place at HWP, Tuticorin
in the Versatile Solvent Synthesis Pilot Plant (VSSP) in campaign mode for special
and futuristic solvents like D2EHPA-II, TiAP, DHOA and TAPO for collection
of data for industrial level production of these solvents. HWB has initiated setting