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sodium metal and Tri Butyl Phosphate (TBP) solvent. of main plant. Based on satisfactory review in AERB, the
Diversified projects namely, Versatile Solvent Production licence was amended to include the operation of HWP
Plant (VSPP) at HWP-Talcher and Versatile Solvent main plant. It was stipulated that commissioning for
Synthesis Plant (VSSP) at HWP-Tuticorin are operational. restart (with Hazardous Chemicals-SynGas, NH , KNH
3
2
Technology Demonstration Plant (TDP), Chembur is etc.) and operation of the main plant shall be carried out
under trial. During the year following licence applications after obtaining necessary clearances from AERB.
were reviewed:
(v) Authorization for Operation of Sodium Facility
(a) Renewal of Licence for Operation of HWP- for Component Testing (SFCT)
Hazira
Fast Reactor Technology Group (FRTG), IGCAR is
The licence for operation issued under the Factories involved in design, construction and operation of various
Act, 1948 of HWP-Hazira to produce 110 MT/year of sodium facilities for the purpose of testing of materials,
reactor grade heavy water was valid up to July 31, 2018. components, equipment for use in FBRs. In 2016, AERB
In the year 2018, the licence was renewed for limited had granted permission for commissioning of Sodium
duration i.e. up to January 31, 2019 due to pending Facility for Component Testing (SFCT) for sodium testing
aspects such as mechanical testing of main cracker tubes, of scaled down components of future FBRs and general
completion of consequence analysis of the cracker tube sodium technology experiments.
failure, revision of ISI Code of Practice, retrofitting of
control room etc. Subsequently, HWP-Hazira submitted After completion of all the commissioning activities,
revised application along with actions taken towards FRTG had submitted application for authorization of
resolution of pending issues. Based on satisfactory operation of SFCT. Safety Review indicated that SFCT
progress made by HWP-Hazira towards resolution of had successfully completed the commissioning of the
pending issues, AERB renewed the licence for operation facility. All mandatory documents required for operation
of HWP-Hazira under the Factories Act, 1948 up to July of the facility were available with the facility. Based on
31, 2023. review AERB granted authorization for operation of SFCT.
(vi) Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration
(b) Renewal of Licence for Operation of HWP-Thal
and Research (AMD)
Licence for operation issued under the Factories Act,
1948 of HWP-Thal was valid till December 31, 2019. HWP- Exploration work at various sites of AMD in northern,
Thal submitted application for renewal. Safety review southern, eastern, western, central and south-central
indicated that the performance of plant was satisfactory region was in progress.
during licence period. ISI of the SSCs was carried out as (vii) Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) & Naturally
per the ISI code of practice and no major abnormality Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)
was observed. HWP-Thal has implemented programme Facilities
for ageing management of important plant SSCs. The
tubes of Main Cracker-A are planned to be replaced after Periodic radiological reports submitted by the facilities
completion of service life of 1.2 lakh hours. Based on the were reviewed by AERB. No abnormality was observed
review AERB renewed the licence for operation HWP- during review.
Thal, under the Factories Act, 1948 up to December 31,
2024. 1.4.4 Licensing of Plant Personnel in FCF

(c) Amendment of Licence for Operation of HWP- Operating personnel of Fuel Cycle Facilities are
Tuticorin required to go through a rigorous Licensing process. This
includes clearing checklists, written exams, walkthrough
In the year 2018, Versatile Solvent Synthesis Pilot and finally qualification interviews. A candidate after
Plant (VSSP) at HWP- Tuticorin (HWP-T) was renewed successfully completing the pre-requisites of licensing
up to July 31, 2023. While granting this licence AERB procedure, appears before the licensing committee for
recommended HWP-T to seek licence for main plant also qualification interview. This committee has member(s)
which was under shutdown since May 2007. Subsequently, from AERB. On satisfactory performance, the candidate
HWP-T had submitted application for renewal of licence is authorization/re-authorization for the given position.

AERB Annual Report 2019 21