Liability law should not concern anyone: S K Sharma

Interview with chairman, managing director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India

India’s nuclear capacity will be increased to 12,980 (megawatt) Mw from 5,780 Mw by 2023, based on current projects launched. The existing sites being developed have the potential to launch about 32,000 Mw, through indigenous and foreign reactors. In an exclusive interview to Sanjay Jog, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India’s (NPCIL) newly-appointed chairman and managing director S K Sharma explains the growth strategy. Edited excerpts:

The present status of our nuclear power sector?

We have installed capacity of 5,780 Mw, through 21 reactors at seven sites. Kudankulam (in Tamil Nadu) unit-2 of 1,000 Mw was made critical (meaning, the run-up has begun for operationalising) on July 10. This unit, when it gets connected to the grid and reaches full power, will add 1,000 Mw, taking the installed capacity to 6,780 Mw.

At the moment we are constructing four PHWRs (pressurised heavy water reactors) of 700 Mw each, two in Rajasthan and Kakrapar (Maharashtra). We have launched two more VVER (Russian term for PWR) reactors of 1,000 Mw each at Kudankulam (units 3 and 4) and two more PHWRs of 700 Mw each at Gorakhpur, Haryana. All these will add 6,200 Mw and when they get completed in a phased manner by 2023, we, at NPCIL, will be generating 12,980 Mw. This is the firm commitment.

Looking beyond 2023, we have started building our potential by acquired land in few more sites and are in the process of acquiring some other sites. We have started also obtaining certain clearances including EC, pollution control board clearance, conducting the geo-technical studies, etc. These sites have the potential to accommodate 12 PHWRs of 700 MW each and 18 large size LWRs (light water reactors) in the range of 1,000 Mw to 1,650 Mw capacity.

Of the proposed LWRs, two sites in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are in the process of development. The environment is favourable for nuclear power capacity addition. The finance minister, in his Budget speech, announced Rs 3,000 crore a year towards equity for the next 15 years. The sector is poised for accelerated growth.

Do you see India's civil nuclear liability law continue to be a major block?

There should not be any concern. The only concern suppliers had earlier was that there was no mechanism available to insure their liabilities. Now, the India Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) has been created, which has already offered operators' policy to us.

Suppliers’ risk or liability they can cover and in my knowledge, INIP will this month offer insurance products for suppliers.

Is the Jaitapur project in Maharashtra, which faces opposition from various sections, being developed?

We have acquired the land and have every intention of using that site.  We are discussing with (UK-based) EDF the technical specifications and business model. I won’t call it really a delay, as these are complex discussions, encompassing various aspects on choice of technology, suitability to the country and saleability of the power, particularly competiveness of rates. All this takes time.

Recently, Westinghouse offered to provide reactors for the Andhra Pradesh project.

Westinghouse has given an offer; we are studying and discussing it with them.