India mulls private firms for nuclear plants

04 Aug 2023 CW Team

According to a statement by federal atomic energy minister Jitendra Singh, the country is currently reviewing its long-standing atomic energy law, which dates back six decades, to enable greater participation from non-state entities. As of now, India allows private companies to contribute in terms of technology and construction in nuclear plants. However, the actual operations and fuel management remain under the control of federal government companies.

In recent months, the discussions surrounding modular reactors have gathered momentum, particularly because India is the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases and is actively seeking cleaner sources of energy to decrease its dependence on coal. At present, coal accounts for approximately 70% of India's electricity generation. To address this challenge, India has set a target to generate half of its power from clean sources by the end of this decade, a crucial milestone in its ambitious aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

At present, detailed technical discussions are underway to evaluate the feasibility of SMR technology. Additionally, the government is exploring the possibility of collaborating with other countries to jointly develop these reactors, as stated by Minister Singh.

One of the prominent players in this field is the state-run NTPC Ltd., which happens to be India's largest power producer. NTPC has embraced the potential of SMRs and is heavily investing in them. The advantages of SMRs lie in their faster construction timeline and flexibility to adapt to grid requirements. Moreover, they can also serve as an off-grid power solution in remote locations, adding to their appeal.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the SMR technology is still in its early stages. Currently, there are only two operating reactors in a floating nuclear project in Russia and another two in China, as per the data provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency last year. Despite the nascent nature of this technology, India's efforts to explore and embrace cleaner sources of power demonstrate the country's commitment to mitigating climate change and transitioning towards a more sustainable energy future.

Also read:
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CERC approves 4.5 GW Renewable Power evacuation in Gujarat

India's nuclear power industry, which has been under state control, is contemplating the idea of increasing the involvement of private companies. The main objective behind this consideration is to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) and thereby contribute to the decarbonisation of industries. According to a statement by federal atomic energy minister Jitendra Singh, the country is currently reviewing its long-standing atomic energy law, which dates back six decades, to enable greater participation from non-state entities. As of now, India allows private companies to contribute in terms of technology and construction in nuclear plants. However, the actual operations and fuel management remain under the control of federal government companies. In recent months, the discussions surrounding modular reactors have gathered momentum, particularly because India is the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases and is actively seeking cleaner sources of energy to decrease its dependence on coal. At present, coal accounts for approximately 70% of India's electricity generation. To address this challenge, India has set a target to generate half of its power from clean sources by the end of this decade, a crucial milestone in its ambitious aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. At present, detailed technical discussions are underway to evaluate the feasibility of SMR technology. Additionally, the government is exploring the possibility of collaborating with other countries to jointly develop these reactors, as stated by Minister Singh. One of the prominent players in this field is the state-run NTPC Ltd., which happens to be India's largest power producer. NTPC has embraced the potential of SMRs and is heavily investing in them. The advantages of SMRs lie in their faster construction timeline and flexibility to adapt to grid requirements. Moreover, they can also serve as an off-grid power solution in remote locations, adding to their appeal. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the SMR technology is still in its early stages. Currently, there are only two operating reactors in a floating nuclear project in Russia and another two in China, as per the data provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency last year. Despite the nascent nature of this technology, India's efforts to explore and embrace cleaner sources of power demonstrate the country's commitment to mitigating climate change and transitioning towards a more sustainable energy future. Also read: RIL to produce green hydrogen in 2 yearsCERC approves 4.5 GW Renewable Power evacuation in Gujarat