Narendra Modi hints at larger role for private sector in nuclear energy

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a classified presentation on India’s nuclear research status and capabilities at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai on Monday during his first visit to Mumbai after being sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister.

“The visit to Mumbai was mainly to listen to the presentation at BARC and discussions with the scientists. No other events were scheduled in this visit. The PM spent time with the scientists and officials. He returned to Delhi in the evening,” said a senior officer from the state government’s protocol department.

Secretary to the Department of Atomic Energy RK Sinha also briefed the Prime Minister about BARC exhibition and apprised him about the activities at the BARC.

“Prime Minister assured the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) of his full support in the implementation of DAE’s ambitious expansion programme and expressed the hope that DAE would meet the target of increasing the capacity by three times from the present level of 5,780 mw by 2023-24 within the projected cost. He underlined the importance of ensuring that nuclear energy remained commercially viable and competitive with other sources of clean energy in the long run,” said an official.