India needs to expand international partnerships to expedite the development of its nuclear plants and meet the target of 63 GWe nuclear power capacity by 2032, the head of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) said on Wednesday.
The world average for building a nuclear plant is five to six years but India takes a longer period than that, WNA Director General Agneta Rising said.
However, India is running its nuclear plants at 80 per cent of the installed capacity, matching the world average, Rising told PTI at the ongoing five-day Singapore International Energy Week which began on Monday.
The Narendra Modi government has set an ambitious 63 GWe nuclear power capacity addition target by the year 2031-32.
"Capacity-wise India has not built so much. India has to pick-up and build more and expand nuclear energy," she said.
Though India is in partnership with Russia to develop its nuclear plants, the country must expand its international partnerships, Rising said.
India and Russia have signed contracts for priority design works and supply of main equipment for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. Three main contracts were signed between state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Russia's JSC Atomstroyexport for priority design works, working design and supply of the main equipment for stage III of Kudankulam NPP.
The NPCIL has also signed an agreement with France's EDF to build six European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs).
Rising also said, "Every country in the world need a direction and policy support to nuclear energy development...If a government lends policy support and set direction, you will get financing, training and easily find good people."
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