India on the roadmap of tripling nuclear power capacity

India is moving towards achieving its target of tripling the nuclear power capacity of the country from July 2014 levels.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, “The Government, in July 2014, had announced tripling of the then existing capacity of 4,780 MW in the next ten years. With the commencement of commercial operation of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), Unit-1 (1,000 MW) in December 2014, the installed nuclear power capacity in the country has reached 5,780 MW. In addition, KNPP, Unit-2 (1,000 MW) has been connected to the grid for the first time in August 2016 and is presently generating power. On commencement of commercial operation of KNPP Unit-2, the installed nuclear power capacity in the country will reach 6,780 MW.”

He added that four reactors with a total capacity of 2,800 MW are under construction and four more reactors with a total capacity of 3,400 MW have been accorded sanction by the Government.

Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI), a public sector company under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is building one 500 MWe capacity prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. PFBR is expected to be functional by October 2017.

On completion of these projects, the installed nuclear capacity will reach 13,480 MW. More reactors based on both indigenous technology and with foreign technical cooperation are also planned in future.

The present share of nuclear energy in the country is about 3.2 per cent in the current financial year 2016-17 (up to Feb-2017).