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 Nuclear fuel refers to any substance, typically fissile material, which is used by nuclear power stations or other atomic nucleus, nuclear devices to generate energy. Oxide fuel For fission reactors, the fuel (typically based on uranium) is ...

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 Uranium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Ura ...

, mined at Jaduguda Uranium Mine in the Singhbhum area of

Jharkhand Jharkhand (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in East India, eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north ...

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. The fission products, which are

radioactive Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is conside ...

, 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. 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. NFC products are supplied to the Department of Atomic Energy, the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy (IN) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Navy, maritime and Amphibious warfare, amphibious branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief ...

, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other defence organisations, as well as chemical, fertiliser, and ball bearing industries. NFC is planning to establish two major fuel fabrication facilities to meet the expected jump in nuclear power production.

References

{{Hyderabad topics Government agencies for energy (India) Nuclear fuel companies Nuclear technology in India Manufacturing companies based in Hyderabad, India Energy companies established in 1971 Non-renewable resource companies established in 1971 1971 establishments in Andhra Pradesh