Press Release Regarding Secretary, DAE & Chairman, AEC visited Heavy Water Plant and Inaugurated Sodium Purification Facility and laid Foundation stone for Sodium Metal.
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission & Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Shri K. N. Vyas laid the foundation stonefor production of Nuclear Grade SodiumatHeavy Water Plant (HWP), Baroda on 5.1.2020. Presently, high purity sodium is required to be imported. High purity sodium finds its use for manufacture of insecticides, synthetic detergent, dyes, various vitamins and drugs, in addition to its application in fast breeder nuclear reactors. Dr. U. Kamachi Mudali, Chairman & Chief Executive, Heavy Water Board (HWB) and other senior officials of HWB were present during the occasion.
The foundation stone is being laid for industrial level production of high purity sodium based on the successful operation of the demonstration plant. After successful completion of Phase-1 and Phase-2 of the plant, it will have a capacity to produce 600 MT of sodium per year.
Activities at HWP, Baroda are also being expanded for manufacture of specially deuterated compounds which are presently being imported. Initial development of the special compounds has already been carried out, which will be manufactured at an industrial scale. A collaboration is also planned to be initiated with M.S. University, Baroda for development of deuterated drug compounds.
With these programmes, HWP, Baroda will become a centre for yet another innovative technology development and demonstration for Make in India for specialty materials.
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