Rs 3,000 crore per annum plan to boost nuclear power sector

A recent amendment to the Atomic Energy Act 1962 has created a provision enabling NPCIL to seek equity participation from central PSUs

To increase investment in nuclear power generation, the government is preparing a comprehensive plan spanning over the next 15-20 years with a proposed budgetary allocation of Rs 3,000 crore per annum, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

A recent amendment to the Atomic Energy Act 1962 has created a provision enabling Nuclear Power Corporation of India to seek equity participation from other central PSUs for atomic power projects and this will help in infusing additional capital, Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh, said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

"In the budget proposal for the financial year 2016-17, the government has announced drawing up a comprehensive plan, spanning next 15-20 years to augment the investment in the nuclear power generation and proposed a budgetary allocation upto Rs 3,000 crore per annum, together with public sector investments will be leveraged to facilitate the required investment for this purpose," Singh said.

The minister said availability of financial resources, land acquisition, availability of water and supply chain of component and equipment are some major problems faced by the sector.