Union minister of state (Independent Charge) for science and technology and earth sciences Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that India's nuclear power generation capacity has reached 35,333 MW, up from 22,480 MW in 2014, while installed capacity has doubled from 4,780 MW to 8,880 MW in the same period. Union Minister of the State for science and technology and earth sciences Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that India's nuclear power generation capacity has reached 35,333 MW, up from 22,480 MW in 2014, while installed capacity has doubled from 4,780 MW to 8,880 MW in the same period. Addressing a parliamentary discussion on nuclear power plants, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding nuclear energy capacity, ensuring safety compliance, and allowing private sector participation. Singh highlighted the increasing geographical spread of India’s nuclear infrastructure, citing the operationalisation of a previously inactive unit in Rajasthan and the announcement of a new reactor in Gorakhnagar, Haryana. He said Rajasthan currently houses seven of the country’s 25 operational nuclear reactors. Traditionally, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat have hosted the majority of nuclear installations. He recalled a significant policy development in 2017 when the Union Cabinet granted simultaneous approval for the construction of 10 new reactors in a single sitting. Referring to recent budget announcements, the minister noted the establishment of a dedicated nuclear mission with increased financial allocation. “Before 2014, the total budget of the Department of Atomic Energy stood at Rs 13,889 crore. This year, it has expanded to Rs 23,604 crore, marking a 170 per cent increase,” he told the House. Singh said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has permitted private sector participation in the nuclear energy domain to augment resources and accelerate development. “The Prime Minister has decided to open up the nuclear sector to private players, ensuring a larger resource pool and faster development,” he said. He added that this move aligns with international trends and will reduce reliance on public funding. (ICE NEW DELHI)

Fonte notizia: Economic Times