As part of a push for cleaner energy, India’s Federal Government is planning permit foreign investment in its civil nuclear power industry, and also allow greater participation by domestic private firms.
These measures were recommended by a government panel, set up by think-tank Niti Aayog which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The panel recommended changes to the Act and to India’s foreign investment policies so that both domestic and foreign private companies can complement nuclear power generation by state-owned companies.
It also recommended replacing old coal-based plants with small modular reactors (SMRs), amid a proposal to amend its electricity policy to not add any new coal-fired power plants, says Reuters.
Private participation through SMRs accounts for 3% of India’s total power production. Coal fires three quarters of it. Factory-built and ready-to-shift, SMRs can fast-track nuclear energy generation, since each produces up to 300 megawatts, requires less capital, time, and land than conventional reactors. They can also safely be deployed in populated regions.
India’s Department of Atomic Energy has said previously that several foreign companies including Westinghouse Electric, GE-Hitachi, Electricite de France (EDF.PA) and Rosatom were interested in participating in the country’s nuclear power projects as technology partners, suppliers, contractors and service providers.
India’s current nuclear power capacity is 6,780 MW and it is adding 21 more units with a capacity of 7,000 MW by 2031.
