Apart from Russia, NPCIL will also import reactors from France (Areva) and the US (General Electric and Westinghouse).

'Two French reactors will be housed in Jaitapur (Maharashtra) and we are looking at more locations,' Jain said while ruling out new sites in Tamil Nadu.

Also known as the atomic power state, Tamil Nadu will be housing nuclear power generation capacity of around 6,000 MW -- existing and proposed.

The state's two existing nuclear islands -- Kalpakkam, around 80 km from here, and Kudankulam -- have attained their saturation levels.

'There will be no more new locations to house nuclear power reactor projects in Tamil Nadu other than the existing Kalpakkam and Kudankulam,' said Jain.

'These locations have attained their saturation levels. The fourth and fifth fast breeder reactor projects that are being planned will be housed outside the state.'

Besides the 2x220 MW pressurised heavy water reactors operated by the Madras Atomic Power Station since the 1980s and a clutch of test reactors, Kalpakkam will house three units of 500 MW fast breeder reactors.

Designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam, the country's first fast reactor is under construction and the government has sanctioned two more such reactors to be located there.

More than two units at a single location will make it economical for NPCIL to locate other facilities like fuel reprocessing centres.

According to Jain, the plant load factor at NPCIL's power stations are going up with the easing of fuel availability.

'Last year was difficult as the load factor was around 45 percent, but this year it will be around 75 percent.'