A meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Power was held under the Chairmanship of Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs. The main topic discussed was the “Roadmap for Development of Nuclear Power Generation.” During the meeting, the Minister spoke about India’s strong commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070. He stressed that increasing the use of non-fossil fuel-based power generation is key to reaching this goal. Since the power sector accounts for over 40% of global energy-related emissions, he said that nuclear energy, being a stable and non-fossil source, would have an important role in India’s clean energy future.
The Minister also explained that nuclear energy can help not only in electricity generation but also in non-electric uses like hydrogen production, desalination, process steam, and space heating. This would support India’s larger energy transition goals. Members were informed that India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors across seven sites with a total installed capacity of 8,880 MW, which provides about 3% of the country’s electricity. Eight reactors with a combined capacity of 6,600 MW are under construction, while another ten reactors with 7,000 MW capacity are at the pre-project stage.
Looking ahead, the Government has set a target of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 under the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047.’ This move aims to boost India’s energy security and help in achieving clean energy targets. The Minister discussed key challenges and strategies to expand nuclear energy. These include amending the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 to encourage more participation from private and state sectors. Other steps include raising public awareness about nuclear safety, acquiring land faster by expanding existing sites, speeding up regulatory approvals, offering tax benefits, classifying nuclear energy as green power, and providing long-term financing to lower costs.
The Minister also emphasized the need to promote indigenous manufacturing under the Make in India initiative, secure diverse uranium fuel supplies, expand the vendor base for nuclear equipment, and develop skilled manpower by improving nuclear education and training programs. Members of Parliament actively joined the discussions and gave valuable suggestions. They highlighted the importance of quicker project execution, improving public perception, bringing in different technologies, and building strong supply and manpower systems.
In his closing remarks, the Minister assured that the Ministry of Power would work closely with the Department of Atomic Energy, State Governments, industries, and all stakeholders. He said the goal is to speed up the setting up of nuclear power projects and help build a clean, secure, and sustainable energy future for the country.
