Out with old, in with new(clear): Companies plan nuclear foray

Several companies have begun scouting for sites to set up nuclear plants, in line with the government's vision to have 100 GW of N-power capacity by 2047. Companies such as NTPC, Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), Tata Power and Adani Power are looking for potential locations even as they await the roll-out of the detailed Nuclear Energy Mission framework from the government, said people familiar with the development.

Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan are some of the states where the companies are believed to have examined sites.

The government has initiated stakeholder consultations on the process of firming up changes to law.

Changes will be made to Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, which will pave the way for participation of private sector entities in the sector, said one of the persons. Approaches adopted in other countries on issues around nuclear power such as civil liability are also being examined.

India's current laws permit only central public sector enterprises to engage in active nuclear power generation.

A road map under the Nuclear Energy Mission, which aims for 100 GW of nuclear power capacity for a Viksit Bharat, is being drawn up.

NTPC has already started examining land parcels and identified more than 20 sites in various states. Tata Power is also exploring sites for its nuclear ambitions, a senior company official told ET.

Adani Power has visited the nuclear power facility at Tarapur to study the working of such units, according to people familiar with the development.

Adani Power and NTPC did not respond to emails.

NPCIL, apart from already having secured suitable land for much of its target, has also been speaking to coastal states to secure more, Chairman and Managing Director Bhuwan Chandra Pathak told ET

"We have land for 22 GW, and we have land for most of our target for 2047," Pathak said. "We are planning to set up six reactors of 700 MW at existing sites - Kakrapar in Gujarat, Rawatbhata in Rajasthan and Narora in Uttar Pradesh. And we already have approval for setting up four reactors in Madhya Pradesh."

The company is looking for an additional fleet of 10 reactors of 700 MW each, for which it is exploring land in various coastal areas, he said. ET reported earlier that NPCIL was looking to establish 50 GW capacity by 2047.

NTPC also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Madhya Pradesh worth Rs 80,000 crore for non-fossil fuel-based capacity. People in the know said most of the investment will go towards nuclear energy projects.