Syllabus: GS-III
Subject: Economy
Topic: Infrastructure
Issue: Nuclear Power
Context: For the first time, the government is pursuing private investment in nuclear power.
Synopsis:
- Nuclear Power, a non-carbon-emitting energy source, currently contributes less than 2%(~6.8 GW) of India’s total electricity generation.
- With private investment, the government hopes to build 11,000 megawatts (MW) of new nuclear power generation capacity by 2040.
- The funding would also help India achieve its target of having 50% of its installed electric generation capacity use non-fossil fuels by 2030, up from 42% now.
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), a PSU wholly owned by the government, owns and operates the country’s fleet of nuclear power plants.
- Funding Plan:
- a)Private companies – will make the investments in the nuclear plants, acquire land, water, and undertake construction in areas outside the reactor complex of the plants.
- b)Whereas the rights to build and run the stations and their fuel management will rest with NPCIL.
