India will complete the first phase of a 500MW reactor and related water desalination plant by 2002, according to Anil Kakodkar, chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). He said that both the reactor and the desalination plant would be established at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu state as part of the second stage of India’s nuclear programme.

The project report for this $640 million fast breeder reactor is being prepared.

Kakodkar said that the water desalination plant would provide treated water for use by the existing 170MWe pressurised heavy water reactor at Kalpakkam.