Indian National Electric Power Company NTPC Three sources said it hopes to build 30 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity in the next two decades, three times higher than expected, with a cost of $62 billion.
Sources who know the matter directly said the country’s highest electricity producer, mainly operating coal-fired factories, is seeking land for its ambitious plans in a country with high resistance to such projects.
Sources said the NTPC targets 10 GW of nuclear power after the government announced plans to open the industry to foreign and private investment this month.
“The NTPC plan leads India’s nuclear power program like in the…the thermal sector,” said a source. “The identified locations have hope and have a lot of added potential.”
A NTPC spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
India has pledged to establish 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity by 2030 and hopes to have at least 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047.
The Indian state-owned nuclear power company is currently the only operator of nearly 8 GW capacity in the country with the goal of increasing to 20 GW by 2032.
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NTPC is already building two 2.6 GW plants with nuclear power, one in Madhya Pradesh and one in Rajasthan.
It was also early approval for the eight states to seek detailed research on land in eight states following public resistance and acquisition issues, sources said.
The states include Gujarat, the homeland of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh in the north, Madhya Pradesh in central India and Andhra Pradesh in the south and Tamil Nadu.
Legal changes
The locations may be enough to build at least 50 GW of capacity, sources said.
Private Indian Utilities and Corporate Groups Tata Power,,,,, Vedanta,,,,, Faith industry and Adani Power According to Reuters, interest in nuclear power has been expressed.
Sources said NTPC’s newly created unit NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam may invest in the industry, including through partnerships.
A company executive told Reuters last week that NTPC is talking about building small nuclear reactors with foreign companies, including from Russia and the United States.
Potential partners include EDF in France and General Electric and Holtec International from the United States
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Kudankulam, India.
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EDF said it was ready to work with Indian industrial partners to develop a small modular reactor project. GE and Holtec did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Modi said last week when he visited France and the United States that the government would cooperate with the two countries to develop India’s nuclear industry.
The Atomic Energy Act of 1962 currently prohibits private investment in nuclear power plants, while under the Civil Liability Act of 2010, strict liability prevents foreign fuel and equipment suppliers, such as GE and West House Sign the transaction.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposes to modify the two actions and promises Rs 20,000 crore (US$2.3 billion) for the research and development of SMRS, with at least five of them to be in 2033 in 2033 Open to operation every year.
