Address: Heavy Water Board (HWB)
Vikram Sarabhai Bhavan
Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai-400 094
Telephone: 91-022-5563240
Fax: 91-022-5563360
Email: email@mumbai.heavywaterboard.org
Website: http://www.heavywaterboard.org
Chief Executive: S.C. Hiremath
Subordinate to: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Primary Function: Production of heavy water for India's nuclear reactors

Description and Activities:
The Tuticorin Heavy Water Plant is located in the state of Tamil Nadu and is owned and operated by the DAE's Heavy Water Board (HWB). The facility uses the monothermal ammonia-hydrogen exchange process to produce up to 71.3Mt of heavy water per year. Construction of the site began in 1971 after a supply contract was signed with the French-Swiss consortium M-S Gelpra. Although the plant began operations in July 1978, it has operated well below capacity, has endured numerous basic equipment failures, and has experienced huge cost overruns. During fiscal year 1996-97, the plant continued to have problems with frequent shutdowns that were due to power failures, equipment and machinery failures, and shutdowns at the adjacent Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation's (SPIC) ammonia plant. Shutdowns at SPIC were particularly significant because it is this entity that supplies the Tuticorin Heavy Water Plant with its ammonia feedstock.

Key Sources: Andrew Koch, "Selected Indian Nuclear Facilities," Center for Nonproliferation Studies, 1999, <http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm>;
"Heavy Water Plant, Tuticorin," Heavy Water Board (DAE Government of India), <http://www.heavywaterboard.org/docs/hwptuti1.htm>.

	Updated September 2003