Allow pvt participation in nuclear power generation: Assocham

The government should amend the Atomic Energy Act to facilitate entry of private firms into nuclear power generation, industry body Assocham said today.

"Amendments in the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 are necessary to enable private sector to foray into nuclear power generation although as many as 40 leading power utilities in private sector have conclusive plans to diversify into nuclear power," the chamber said.

Power utilities such as Tatas, JSW, Jaiprakash Associates, Reliance, GMR and Lanco are ready with their nuclear energy diversification drive and awaiting the proposed act to be amended, it said.

In addition, other players like Jindal Power and Torrent Power are among other power utilities that have also firmed up their plans to diversify in nuclear energy in cooperation with state owned companies, it added.

The chamber has urged the power ministry to move a Cabinet note for seeking government approval to amend 1962 Atomic Energy Act, which prohibits participation of private sector companies in nuclear power projects.

The current nuclear power generation capacity of the country stands at 4,120 Mw, the government has set an ambitious target of augmenting this capacity to 20,000 Mw by 2020.