(a) whether the percentage of nuclear power generation in the country is much lower as compared to developed countries such as the US, Japan and Germany etc.;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
(c) the efforts made or proposed to be made by the Government to increase the quantum of power generation from nuclear energy?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :
(a)&(b)The share of nuclear power generation was about 3.4% in India in the calendar year 2016. The corresponding share in United States of America and Germany was about 19.7% and 13.1% respectively. The share of nuclear power generation is country specific and depends on other sources of electricity generation deployed in the country. The reason for low share in nuclear electricity generation in India is the relatively low installed nuclear power capacity. A larger nuclear power capacity could not be added in the initial stages because of technology development phase that had to be gone through during the technology denial and international embargo regime from 1974 to 2008. Another constraint faced by the nuclear power programme during the first two decades was availability of resources.
(c) Presently 22 reactors (6780 MWe capacity) are in operation and 9 more reactors of (6700 MWe capacity) are under construction / commissioning. The Government has taken several enabling steps to increase the nuclear power capacity and to provide adequate quantity of fuel. The Government has also accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of twelve (12) nuclear power reactors - ten (10) indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet mode & two (02) units of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) to be set up in cooperation with Russian Federation and also accorded “In principle” approval of sites for locating future reactors based both on indigenous technologies and with foreign technical cooperation to enhance nuclear power capacity in the country.
In addition, the Government has entered into enabling agreements with foreign countries for nuclear cooperation including supply of fuel, amended the Atomic Energy Act to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects and created the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) for resolving the issues related to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010.
******