Nuclear Fuel Complex

The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) was established in 1971 as a major industrial unit of India's Department of Atomic Energy, as a nuclear plant also specializing in supply of nuclear fuel bundles and reactor core components. It is a unique facility where natural and enriched uranium fuel, zirconium alloy cladding and reactor core components are manufactured under one roof.

Natural uranium, mined at Jaduguda Uranium Mine in the Singhbhum area of Jharkhand state, is converted into nuclear fuel assemblies. A 220 MW PHWR fuel bundle contains 15.2 kg of natural uranium dioxide (UO₂). Uranium dioxide pellets, which generate heat while undergoing fission, also generate fission products.^[1] The fission products, which are radioactive, should be contained and not allowed to mix with coolant water. Hence the UO₂ pellets are contained in zirconium alloy tubes with both ends hermetically sealed.

Nuclear Fuel Complex supplies zircaloy clad uranium oxide fuel assemblies and zirconium alloy structural components for all 14 operating atomic power reactors in India.^[2] The Hyderabad plant has a capacity to produce 250 tons of UO₂ per year and is expected to expand to a 600 tons per year capacity.^[2]

NFC products are supplied to the Department of Atomic Energy, the Indian Navy, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other defence organisations, as well as chemical, fertiliser, and ball bearing industries.^[2]

NFC is planning to establish two major fuel fabrication facilities to meet the expected jump in nuclear power production.^[3]

References

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Energy ministries and departments of India

Power

Statutory bodies	Central Electricity Authority Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Bureau of Energy Efficiency Damodar Valley Corporation
Autonomous bodies	Central Power Research Institute National Power Training Institute
PSUs	NTPC Limited NHPC Limited North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited Power Finance Corporation REC Limited Power Grid Corporation of India THDC India Limited Power System Operation Corporation

New and
Renewable Energy

• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)

Ministry of Coal

• Coal India
  • Bharat Coking Coal
  • Central Mine Planning and Design Institute
• NLC India Limited
• Singareni Collieries Company
• Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation

Petroleum and
Natural Gas

Academic	Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology Pandit Deendayal Energy University
Other	Directorate General of Hydrocarbons Oil Industry Safety Directorate Petroleum Conservation Research Association
Operational	Balmer Lawrie Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited Bharat Petroleum Engineers India Limited Gas Authority of India Limited Indian Oil Corporation Numaligarh Refinery Limited Oil India Limited Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Hindustan Petroleum
Defunct	Biecco Lawrie
Other	Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Department of
Atomic Energy

Apex board	Atomic Energy Commission
Regulatory board	Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
R&D	Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership
PSUs	Electronics Corporation of India Indian Rare Earths Limited Uranium Corporation of India Nuclear Power Corporation of India Bharatiya Nabhkiya Vidyut Nigam Limited
Industrial	Heavy Water Board Nuclear Fuel Complex Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology
Academic	National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar National Board for Higher Mathematics Atomic Energy Education Society Tata Memorial Centre Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics Institute of Physics Harish-Chandra Research Institute Institute of Mathematical Sciences Institute for Plasma Research