Share of atomic energy in India’s overall electricity generation is about 2.93%

According to the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, the share of atomic energy in the overall electricity generation in the country was about 2.93% in the year 2017-18.

Measures to enhance the generation from nuclear power

  • The Government has taken several measures to enhance the generation from nuclear power plants in the country. The measures include:
    • Securing fuel supply by conclusion of fuel supply contracts with several countries for existing and future fleet of reactors under IAEA Safeguards and augmentation of fuel supplies from domestic sources.
    • Augmenting nuclear power capacity:
      • Resolution of issues related to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act & Creation of Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP).
      • Accord of administrative approval and financial sanction of – ten (10) indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet mode & two (02) units of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) to be set up in cooperation with Russian Federation.
      • Amendment of the Atomic Energy Act to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects.
      • Enhanced project monitoring to identify and address the issues affecting project progress at multiple levels coupled with close monitoring through Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation “PRAGATI” platform.
  • The completion cost of Indigenous 700 MW PHWR in the year 2017 is about ₹ 15 crore per MW.

New nuclear power capacity

  • New nuclear power capacity is planned to be added in order to increase the share of generation of electricity through atomic energy.
  • In this connection, nine reactors with a capacity of 6700 MW are under construction. The details are as follows:
Location & State Project Capacity (MW)
Kakrapar, Gujarat KAPP-3&4 2 x 700
Rawatbhata, Rajasthan RAPP-7&8 2 X 700
Gorakhpur, Haryana GHAVP-1&2 2 X 700
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu KKNPP– 3&4 2 X 1000
Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu PFBR 500
  • In addition, the Government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for setting up 12 more reactors with a capacity of 9000 MW.
  • The details are:
Location & State Project Capacity(MW)
Chutka, Madhya Pradesh Chutka -1&2 2 X 700
Kaiga, Karnataka Kaiga – 5&6 2 X 700
Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan Mahi Banswara – 1&2 2 X 700
Gorakhpur, Haryana GHAVP – 3&4 2 X 700
Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan Mahi Banswara – 3&4 2 X 700
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu KKNPP 5&6 2 X 1000
  • On progressive completion of the projects under construction and accorded sanction, the installed nuclear power capacity will reach 22480 MW by 2031.
  • The Government has also accorded ‘in principle’ approval of the following sites for setting up nuclear power plants in future:
Location & State Site Capacity (MW)
Jaitapur, Maharashtra Jaitapur, Units- 1 to 6 6 x 1650
Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh Kovvada, Units- 1 to 6 6 x 1208
Chhaya Mithi Virdi, Gujarat Chhaya Mithi Virdi, Units- 1 to 6 6 x 1000*
Haripur, West Bengal Haripur, Units – 1 to 6 6 x 1000*
Bhimpur, Madhya Pradesh Bhimpur, Units- 1 to 4 4 X 700
  • *Nominal Capacity

Inter-Governmental Civil Nuclear Agreements

  • The list of Inter-Governmental Agreements concluded by India on atomic energy in the last five years are given below:
    • Australia 05.09.2014
    • Sri Lanka 16.02.2015
    • United Kingdom 13.11.2015
    • Japan 11.11.2016
    • Vietnam 09.12.2016
    • Bangladesh 08.04.2017

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