Nuclear power generation may grow 30% in FY10: CMIE

With the import of 420 tonnes of uranium in the current fiscal, nuclear power generation in India is likely to be stepped up by 30 per cent, an economic think-tank has said.        

"According to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), 420 tonnes of uranium will be imported in 2009-10. This is expected to lead to a 30 per cent increase (600 MW) in nuclear power generation during the year," Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said in its monthly report for July.        

"We have thus revised our forecast for growth in power generation in 2009-10 to 5.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent estimated earlier," CMIE said.        

While India has already received 300 tonnes of the radioactive fuel from France and 60 tonnes from Russia, it is expected to receive the remaining 60 tonnes by this month-end.        

India currently has 1,49,392 MW of installed power generation capacity. Of this, 2,000 MW is generated by state- owned Nuclear Power Corp (NPCIL) from its plants at Tarapur, Kakrapar, Kaiga, Narora and Kalpakkam.        

Budget 2009-10's increased allocation of Rs 2,080 crore to the power reforms programme over the previous year will also give a big boost to growth in generation, CMIE said.        

The government has upped by 160 per cent the spend for Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, a scheme to reduce the electricity demand-supply gap.