- To ramp up India’s domestic nuclear power production, the Union cabinet on May 17, 2017, cleared a proposal to indigenously build 10 atomic reactors, the largest ever approval granted for such facilities in one go.
- Once completed, the 10 reactors of 700 MW each will give a much-needed fillip to the domestic nuclear industry.
- The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) will have indigenous but latest technology.
- A total of 7,000 MW capacity will be added. It will help produce clean energy.
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- The cabinet’s decision reflects the government’s commitment to prioritize the use of clean power in India’s energy mix as part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nation’s industrialization.
- It also supports India’s commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency, and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change.
- India currently has installed nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants.
Read in Hindi: बिजली उत्पादन के लिए 10 नए परमाणु रिएक्टरों की स्थापना के लिए मंत्रिमंडल ने मंजूरी दी
- Another 6,700 MW of nuclear power is expected to be added by 2021-22 when currently under-construction projects go on stream in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
- The total share of nuclear power in the country currently stands at a low 3.5 percent.
- The 10 reactors would be built at Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Gorakhpur (Haryana).
- With likely manufacturing orders of close to Rs 70,000 crore to the domestic companies, the project is expected to help transform Indian nuclear industry and generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment.
- However, anti-nuclear groups voiced their opposition to the decision.
- Greenpeace India termed the move an “economic blunder” and another “futile” exercise to waste the taxpayer’s money on “unsafe, obsolete and expensive” technology.
Source: Firstpost
