The Hindu Business Line : Govt plans to set up `Atomic Parks'

Sounding out
The Prime Minister's Office has initiated groundwork on the proposal and utilities such as the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) — the sole nuclear power producer — have been sounded out on the plans to have such designated sites for harnessing nuclear generation in the country.

New Delhi , March 14

In the wake of the recent US-India civilian nuclear deal, the Centre is thinking of setting up `Atomic Parks' to augment nuclear power generation capacity at a fast pace.

The proposal, though still at a preliminary stage, is aimed at setting up a large number of nuclear power units at each site to achieve the twin prong strategy of enhancing the potential for new capacity addition and also streamlining the process of possible International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of the civilian nuclear sites in the future, as envisaged under the nuclear deal.

Groundwork initiated

According to Government sources, the Prime Minister's Office has initiated groundwork on the proposal and utilities such as the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) — the sole nuclear power producer — have been sounded out on the plans to have such designated sites for harnessing nuclear generation in the country.

India currently has 22 nuclear stations in various locations across the country, of which 14 have been designated for civilian use under the Indo-US nuclear deal. With the possible entry of new players into nuclear power generation, including private sector companies, the `Atomic Parks' concept is expected to gain currency, Government officials said.

According to NPCIL estimates, the country could add between 20,000 and 40,000 MW of nuclear power generation capacity over the next 10 years or so if several more players, including private sector companies, enter the sector.

Change in law

Though the success of the civilian nuclear programme hinges largely on the Indo-US deal, for the agreement to work, the US Congress must change a law that bars selling nuclear material to countries such as India, which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Indo-US nuclear deal, if ratified by the Congress, is expected to open up the international nuclear fuel supply market for Indian nuclear power players, greatly enhancing the nuclear capacity building process in the country. The benefits from the deal with the US, in terms of imports and nuclear technology, are expected to start trickling over the next 18 months or so, according to industry experts.

India's power generation capacity, currently pegged at 3,310 MW, forms less than 3 per cent of the country's total installed generation capacity of about 1,20,000 MW. Thermal power meets 70 per cent of India's requirements, while hydro contributes about 24 per cent at present.

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