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India seeks $26 bln of personal nuclear power investments, sources state

India will invite personal companies to invest about $26 billion in its nuclear energy sector to increase the amount of electricity from sources that don't. produce carbon dioxide emissions, two government sources told. .

This is the very first time Brand-new Delhi is pursuing private. investment in nuclear power, a non-carbon-emitting energy source. that contributes less than 2% of India's total electrical energy. generation. The financing would assist India to attain its target. of having 50% of its installed electrical generation capability use. non-fossil fuels by 2030, up from 42% now.

The government remains in talks with a minimum of 5 personal firms. including Dependence Industries, Tata Power,. Adani Power and Vedanta Ltd to invest around. 440 billion rupees ($ 5.30 billion) each, the 2 sources, who. are directly associated with the matter, stated recently.

The federal Department of Atomic Energy and state-run. Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) have actually held multiple. rounds of discussions with the personal companies in the past. year on the investment plan, the sources said.

The Department of Atomic Energy, NPCIL, Tata Power, Dependence. Industries, Adani Power and Vedanta did not react to inquiries. sent out .

With the financial investment, the government hopes to build 11,000. megawatts (MW) of brand-new nuclear power generation capability by 2040,. stated the sources, who did not want to be identified as the plan. is still being finalised.

NPCIL operates and owns India's current fleet of nuclear. power plants, with a capacity of 7,500 MW, and has committed. investments for another 13,000 MW.

The sources said under the financing plan the personal. business will make the investments in the nuclear plants,. get land, water and undertake construction in areas outside. the reactor complex of the plants.

The rights to develop and run the stations and their fuel. management will rest with NPCIL, as enabled under the law, they. said.

The personal business are anticipated to earn income from the. power plant's electrical energy sales and NPCIL would run the. projects for a fee, the sources said.

This hybrid design of nuclear power project advancement is. an innovative option to accelerate the nuclear capability, stated. Charudatta Palekar, an independent power sector consultant who. previously worked for PwC.

The strategy will not need any amendment to the India's. Atomic Energy Act of 1962 however will require a final consent from. the Department of Atomic Energy, stated among the 2 sources.

Indian law bars personal companies from setting up nuclear. power plants however enables them to supply elements, equipment and. sign building and construction agreements for work outside of the reactors.

New Delhi has not fulfill its nuclear power capacity addition. targets for several years generally due to the fact that it might not procure nuclear. fuel materials. In 2010, India struck an offer with the. United States for materials of reprocessed nuclear fuel.

India's strict nuclear settlement laws have actually obstructed. talks with foreign power plant contractors such as General Electric. and Westinghouse. The country has actually deferred a target to add. 20,000 MW of nuclear power from 2020 to 2030.

(source: Reuters)