Vadodra to House India’s 1st Nuclear-Grade Sodium Plant

Vadodara: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is setting up India’s first plant to produce nuclear grade sodium in Vadodara. The plant will produce 600 metric tonnes of sodium per year.

K N Vyas, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and DAE secretary, laid the foundation stone for the production of nuclear grade sodium at Heavy Water Plant (HWP), Baroda on Sunday.

Presently, high purity sodium is imported. High purity sodium is used for manufacturing insecticides, synthetic detergent, dyes, various vitamins and drugs. It also has its application in fast breeder nuclear reactors.
The foundation stone was laid for the industrial level production of high purity sodium based on the successful operation of the demonstration plant.
“After the successful completion of phase-I and phase-2 of the plant, it will have a capacity to produce 600 metric tonnes of sodium per year,” a release issued by the HWP, Baroda said.
HWP, Baroda is also expanding its capacity to manufacture specially deuterated compounds which are presently imported.
“Initial development of the special compounds has already been carried out, which will be manufactured at an industrial scale,” the release further mentioned.
The HWP, Baroda is planning to initiate collaboration with M S University for the development of deuterated drug compounds.
“With these programmes, the HWP, Baroda will become a centre for yet another innovative technology development and demonstration for ‘Make in India’ for speciality materials,” the release stated. Dr U Kamachi Mudali, chairman and chief executive of the HWP, Baroda and other senior officials of the plant were present during the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Source: ToI

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