NTPC Nuclear Projects: Public sector power generating company NTPC is planning to set up nuclear power projects of 700 MW, 1,000 MW and 1,600 MW capacity at various places in the country. A senior official of the company gave this information.
NTPC aims to achieve 30 percent share (30 GW) in India’s proposed 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047. According to industry estimates, a one gigawatt nuclear plant requires an investment of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore and usually takes three years from inception to commissioning.
The company is looking for land in these states
Giving information on the company’s nuclear expansion plans, an official said, NTPC is currently evaluating land options in several states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. “The capacity of the nuclear projects will be 700 MW, 1,000 MW and 1,600 MW respectively,” said an official involved in the company’s strategic planning.
NTPC will continue nuclear power development work in the states identified and approved by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
Agreement with Uranium Corporation of India Limited
The official further said, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board will approve the sites and NTPC will implement the projects accordingly. The company has also started efforts on the raw material front and is exploring the possibility of acquiring uranium assets abroad. Uranium is a naturally occurring metallic element and is the primary fuel used in nuclear reactors. NTPC has already signed a draft agreement with Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for joint techno-commercial exploration of uranium assets abroad.
On the technology front, NTPC plans to set up indigenously developed pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) for 700 MW and 1,000 MW plants. “For nuclear projects of 1,600 MW, we can consider technical collaboration,” the official said. Established as a thermal power producer in 1975, NTPC Ltd has continuously expanded and diversified into new energy sources.
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