Govt to increase India’s nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031

The Centre government has set a goal of increasing nuclear power capacity in the country to 22,480 MW by 2031, up from the current 6,780 MW. The government has given administrative approval and financial sanction for the construction of 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each in fleet mode, in addition to the projects currently under construction 8,700 MW, atomic energy minister Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. By 2031, the installed nuclear power capacity is expected to reach 22,480 MW, with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) of 500 MW being implemented by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), a government of India enterprise. The minister also told the House that the Indian nuclear establishment has established strict procedures for the design, development, and operation of systems used in its facilities.The safety and security-critical systems are designed and developed in-house with custom hardware and software that has gone through regulatory verification and validation, making them resistant to cyber security threats. Nuclear power plant critical infrastructure is isolated from the internet, and access to such systems is limited to authorised personnel and closely monitored. Image Source Also read: India debuts largest homegrown nuclear reactor