AP to set up nuclear power plant

Giving a boost to power generation, the Andhra Pradesh government will soon set up a nuclear power plant in the state to produce 2,000 Mw of power.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the state government-owned AP Genco will soon enter into a partnership agreement to set up the plant, Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh said today.

Under the agreement, NPCIL will have 51 per cent stake in the JV, while the remaining will be with AP Genco.

Talking to reporters in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy, Ramesh said that Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar told him yesterday about the nuclear power plant proposed to be set up in the state.

The state government has identified Cuddapah and Srikakulam for setting up the plant and both the sites would be studied before taking a final decision, he said.

Observing that Andhra Pradesh possessed second highest uranium reserves after Jharkhand, Ramesh said it would be ideal to set up a nuclear power plant in Andhra Pradesh.

With the expected commissioning of various power projects, the state would see net addition of 13,000 Mw capacity in the near future, which is a record compared to other states, he said.