Thaindian News

Chennai, June 1 (IANS) Top level changes took place Friday at India’s two nuclear power operators - Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (Bhavini)and Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL), following the retirement the day before of NPCIL chairman and managing director (CMD)v S.K. Jain.

Prabhat Kumar, till recently Director (Construction) and Project Director(Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor - PFBR), has been redesignated as Bhavini’s CMD. He will function as acting CMD till further orders from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Bhavini is constructing India’s own 500 MW fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam, around 80 km from here. Two more fast reactors are planned at the same location.

Ever since Bhavini was incorporated in 2003, the CMD of NPCIL doubled up as the CMD of the former.

But this time, there has been a change in the practice.

Part of the 18th batch of BARC Training school, Kumar has been involved in various spheres of activity in the nuclear power sector ranging from design, procurement, reactor maintenance, quality assurance, remote tooling and others at NPCIL before coming to Bhavini.

Meanwhile at NPCIL, S. Bhardwaj, Director (Technical), took charge as CMD Thursday. He will also be the company’s acting CMD till further orders from DAE.

Officials said the government was considering various names for the CMD post at NPCIL and a decision may soon be expected.

Meanwhile, a series of top level retirements are expected at NPCIL this year, including a couple of executive directors.

“There will not be any sudden vacuum at the top since we have a good succession plan,” Bhardwaj told IANS.

On the board of NPCIL since 2005, Bhardwaj has been associated with nuclear fuel, design and engineering activities, reactor core design and other areas.

He is a member of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Advisory Committee on design codes and guides and has participated in the preparation of a number of safety codes and guides for the sectoral regulator.