ONGC proposes to partner in building n-reactors: Minister

In a bid to push nuclear power development in India, the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has submitted a plan to collaborate with the Nuclear Power Corp for setting up reactors, a minister said on Friday.

"ONGC has come forward with a plan. They have a lot of money they would like to invest and we have the technical expertise," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, who also looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), said while addressing an atomic energy conclave here organised by India Energy Forum.

The government has recently amended the Atomic Energy Act 1962 to enable the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to form joint ventures (JVs) with public sector undertakings (PSUs) in order to meet the high cost of setting up nuclear plants.

Earlier this year, the government approved the construction 10 indigenous pressurised heavy water nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 7,000 MW. Each of the reactors would have a capacity of 700 MW.

India currently has around 7,000 MW of operational nuclear power plants, and about 6,700 MW Aof plants under implementation, which will be set up by 2021-22.

Singh also said that the Centre is currently working with various state governments to sensitise about the additional uses of nuclear energy in fields other than electricity like in irradiation of agriculture products, medicine, among others.

He also stressed the need for a vast sensitisation programme to remove misconceptions about the health and safety aspects of nuclear power.

He said "there is a lot of public antagonism to nuclear", which disaffected politicians exploit to organise protests against utilities that are proposed to be built in some areas.

--IANS

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