Representational Image | Source: britannica.com
Government has given In-Principle approval of largest nuclear power plant in India which is ever planned or constructed. The nuclear power plant will be set up at Jaitapur in Maharashtra with a total capacity of 9900 MW.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Government has accorded ‘In-Principle’ approval of the site at Jaitapur in Maharashtra for setting up six nuclear power reactors of 1650 MW each in technical cooperation with France which would make it the largest nuclear power generating site with a total capacity of 9900 MW.
The minster also conveyed yesterday (15 December 2021) that nuclear power industry grew 40% in the last seven years. Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh, said the installed nuclear capacity has grown from 4780 MW to 6780 MW, an increase of over 40%. In separated message, the minister also highlighted the importance of nuclear power industry to reach net Zero Economy for India.
It has been informed that in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on nuclear power capacity, Dr Jithendra Singh has informed that the installed nuclear power capacity in the country at present is 6780MW and the share of nuclear power in the total electricity generation in the country is around 3.1% in the year 2020-21.
The Minister commented that nuclear power is clean and environment-friendly, apart from the fact that it has the potential to ensure the country’s long-term energy security on a sustainable basis. The nuclear power plants have so far produced about 755 billion Units of electricity, thereby saving about 650 million tons of CO2 emissions.
As DrJitendra Singh told the media, the net zero targets are expected to be met by using a combination of clean energy sources, including nuclear power. So, the present nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW is planned to be increased to 22480 MW by 2031 upon the completion of projects that are currently under construction and those that have been sanctioned. There are plans to build more nuclear power reactors in the future. There’s been a lot of efforts to boost nuclear power. Some of them are:
- Accord of administrative approval and financial sanction for ten (10) indigenous 700 MW pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) to be built in fleet mode with equity support.
- Resolution of issues related to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act & Creation of Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP).
- Amendment of the Atomic Energy Act to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects.
Existing largest nuclear power plant in India, KKNP comprises six units of Light Water Reactors (VVERs), each of 1000 MW capacity. It was set up in technical cooperation with the Russian Federation, the reactors at Kudankulam are state-of-the-art in terms of safety. They incorporate a combination of advanced, multi-layered safety features ensuring the highest level of safety of the plant, public and environment.
It’ll be built in 3 phases (2x1000MW each). Currently, reactors 1 and 2 are up and running, while reactors 3 and 4 are about halfway done