India plans 20 more nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs of the country

Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: In a major boost to nuclear energy in the country, the Nuclear Power 
Corporation of India Limited plans to set up as many as 20 nuclear reactors in different 
States.

The NPCIL has identified the sites. It has also selected back-up sites for these projects 
in case it faces hurdles with the identified locations.

Dr SK Jain, chairman and managing director of NPCIL, said the nuclear reactors would be 
ready during the 12th five-year plan period. The new nuclear power plants will come up 
among other places at Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh.

Stating that India is poised to emerge as the world leader in thorium and inter-metal 
technology, Dr Jain told the inaugural session of the international conference on 
characterisation and quality control of nuclear fuels, organised by the Nuclear Fuel 
Complex, here on Monday, that nuclear scientists in the country have been successful in 
using combined fuels like uranium-thorium and plutonium and thorium in nuclear reactors.

Nuclear energy production in the country has now touched 32,000 million units, which is 
doubled the capacity two years ago.

“We have also brought plutonium carbide to commercial level. A nuclear power plant will 
be ready based on this technology. We will recycle nuclear waste to obtain maximum energy 
utilisation,” he said.

Alexander Bychkov, deputy director-general, International Atomic Energy Agency, said 
India is one of the key nuclear countries. He lauded the efforts of the country in 
producing thorium fuel for nuclear reactors.

Dr Sreekumar Benerjee, chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, said nuclear power plants in 
the country are safe and there is no cause for worry.