Nangal
31° 23' N 76° 20' E

The research in Heavy Water production was initiated by the Chemical Engineering division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in the 60's and was continued by the Heavy Water Division of the Centre where a Pilot Plant was operated for studying the H2S-H20 exchange process. While these studies were in progress, a Heavy Water Plant at Nangal in Punjab was set up in August 1962.

Indian heavy-water production supports domestic natural uranium [versus enriched uranium] nuclear power plants. Difficulties in supplying reactor inventories have been mitigated by nuclear power plant construction delays. A total of eight operating heavy-water plants have a total production capacity of more than 650 te/yr, adequate both to support current domestic requirements and export sales [including 100 te to South Korea and 350 te to Romania]. Six of the plants use ammonia exchange processes and are associated with fertilizer production plants, and the other two use the hydrogen sulfide process.