India set become Third Largest Nuclear Producer by 2030 : 10 new Nuclear Reactors in 5 States!
India will achieve a 20-gigawatt capacity of nuclear power generation by 2030, a major milestone that will place the nation as the third largest producer of atomic energy in the world after the USA and France.
Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh on Sunday (9 April) said that nearly 9% share of electricity is likely to be contributed from India’s nuclear sources by the year 2047, when the country celebrates 100 years of independence.
The minister further informed that during 2021-22 the nuclear power reactors generated 47,112 million units of electricity, which comprises about 3.15% of the total electricity generated in the country. Speaking after a review meeting with senior scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, Singh highlighted that the contribution of nuclear power will bring the country closer to achieving its net zero target by 2070. The Centre has approved the installation of 10 nuclear reactors in five states across India.
The minister said that the government has roped in public sector undertaking for the installation of the reactors. He added that the Center has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for 10 indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 700 MW each in fleet mode. The 10 reactors will come up in Karnataka, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Two nuclear reactors will each be installed in Kaiga, Chutka, and Gorakhpur nuclear power plants. As a result, today India is the sixth largest in the world in the number of reactors that are functional and second largest in the total number of reactors including those under construction. “The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 6780 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under
construction and accorded sanction.
The Government has also accorded ‘in principle’ approval for new sites to set up nuclear reactors in the future,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said in his written reply.
